Comments on: Comedians and Dicks http://www.haibane.info/2006/08/15/comedians-and-dicks/ a celebration of science fiction, anime, and geek culture Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:05:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Quorlox http://www.haibane.info/2006/08/15/comedians-and-dicks/#comment-488 Quorlox Thu, 17 Aug 2006 00:18:43 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2006/08/15/comedians-and-dicks/#comment-488 As I said, I don't dispute the thesis that miscommunication is a problem. But, a family friend who's now a tenured English prof once expressed his outrage to me at how people would pick any word that came to mind to describe a situation. Basically, this is also a form of miscommunication. The definition of words is changing because of the ignorance of the speaker. I do it too; it's much easier than trying to remember my vocab lessons. Because of this discussion, I'll probably be scrounging for words for the next week trying to avoid this mistake. :D Maybe "joshing" would be the best word to describe the coffee store employee's bad humor. As I said, I don’t dispute the thesis that miscommunication is a problem. But, a family friend who’s now a tenured English prof once expressed his outrage to me at how people would pick any word that came to mind to describe a situation. Basically, this is also a form of miscommunication. The definition of words is changing because of the ignorance of the speaker. I do it too; it’s much easier than trying to remember my vocab lessons.

Because of this discussion, I’ll probably be scrounging for words for the next week trying to avoid this mistake. :D Maybe “joshing” would be the best word to describe the coffee store employee’s bad humor.

]]> By: L6 http://www.haibane.info/2006/08/15/comedians-and-dicks/#comment-479 L6 Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:33:37 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2006/08/15/comedians-and-dicks/#comment-479 I agree about Seanbaby's specific coffee example, but part of Seanbaby's point was that so many people are trying to be sarcastic and they're really, really bad at it. That's a good point, though, about conveying additional information. I think it's exemplied well by Basil Fawlty's character in Fawlty Towers. I agree about Seanbaby’s specific coffee example, but part of Seanbaby’s point was that so many people are trying to be sarcastic and they’re really, really bad at it.

That’s a good point, though, about conveying additional information. I think it’s exemplied well by Basil Fawlty’s character in Fawlty Towers.

]]> By: Quorlox http://www.haibane.info/2006/08/15/comedians-and-dicks/#comment-475 Quorlox Wed, 16 Aug 2006 08:57:28 +0000 http://www.haibane.info/2006/08/15/comedians-and-dicks/#comment-475 I'm not disputing that miscommunication contributes to the world's problems, but some intentional "miscommunication" such as sarcasm isn't just about trying to be funny. Less-than-direct responses can contain additional information concerning the responder's mood or feelings. For example, if a particular repetitive request is becoming annoying, a sarcastic response to a "Can you do this...again?" could be used convey that annoyance. While the responder could just say I'm annoyed, stop it, that may be socially less acceptable for whatever reason. And the coffee example provided at the link didn't strike me as sarcasm, which of course forced me to look up a definition for sarcasm. My desktop dictionary states sarcasm is "a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain". I don't think a "We don't have it...oh yes we do" scenario involves much satire or irony, of course, it's pretty early in the morning here so maybe I just don't get it. :) I’m not disputing that miscommunication contributes to the world’s problems, but some intentional “miscommunication” such as sarcasm isn’t just about trying to be funny. Less-than-direct responses can contain additional information concerning the responder’s mood or feelings. For example, if a particular repetitive request is becoming annoying, a sarcastic response to a “Can you do this…again?” could be used convey that annoyance. While the responder could just say I’m annoyed, stop it, that may be socially less acceptable for whatever reason.

And the coffee example provided at the link didn’t strike me as sarcasm, which of course forced me to look up a definition for sarcasm. My desktop dictionary states sarcasm is “a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain”. I don’t think a “We don’t have it…oh yes we do” scenario involves much satire or irony, of course, it’s pretty early in the morning here so maybe I just don’t get it. :)

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