The Punch, and why I think I have to stop bothering with comments
Do you read The Punch? I do, but lately it's getting to point where I don't think I am going to bother reading any of the comments on there anymore, which is a shame as that is one of the great things about The Punch, the chance for an open dialogue between people from all walks of life on issues that affect most of us.
I just don't understand these people who have absolutely no idea what sarcasm or humour is. It just reinforces the need for someone to come up with a sarcasm font!
An example - there is a piece on there today called 'Why stop at binning welcome to country and prayers' by Chris Deal. He is clearly being sarcastic and using extreme points of issue to support his argument. Anyone with half a brain could read his article and see the point he is trying to make. Yet there are still comments on there from people who seem to think that calling for a ban on things like the Anzac Day parade and foreplay in the same article, with ridiculously overstated reasons that are just so obviously being sarcastic, is an actual call to ban Anzac Day and other things. They have completely missed the point, and at the same time made themselves look like the huge, humourless fools they are because they can't understand english properly and read between the lines. (I'm sure these are the same people that write nasty comments to Joe Hildebrand of the Daily Telegraph whenever he dare uses sarcasm or satire in an article!)
I know some people say that sarcasm is the lowest form of humour, but I think it has a place and when used correctly can be an excellent tool for expressing an opinion, or the absurdity of certain suggestions.
My other problem with the comments is that some of the commentors are just so convinced of their point of view that it's almost pointless leaving a comment as you'll just be attacked because your opinion is different, rather than having a discussion between adults with open minds wanting to looks at all sides of an issue equally. I hate the way some of these people cast nasty aspersions on the personal lives of the authors and other commentors just because their point of view is different. It's ridiculous. It's a reason why I've stopped commenting on Mamamia so much. It's just not worth it.
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And that's when I start feeling like this: http://xkcd.com/386/
In fact, I've just 'blogged about a run-in I had with a commenter who turned into a troll on Twitter the other night.
Irony is an important tool for highlighting the absurdity of certain arguments. Of course it's a bloody ritual that doesn't achieve anything tangible. So is singing the national anthem, so what's your point?
It seems, irony is also important in reminding us how many people out there really don't get it.
At least they're not listening to talk radio.
I was in a network where I had to notate if I was joking or being sarcastic because I was taken wrongly too many times.
Sarcastic font is a good idea.
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