# Ahhh, irony. It's ironic, isn't it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 9, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828 "2001-07-09T14:43:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/1 "2001-07-09T14:43:28Z")
I’ve often seen it in my own life and in the lives of close friends over the years, but having access to the myriad stories of the **TM** has opened up more and more instances of blatant irony than I would have thought possible. Most recently, and the impetus for this thread, is **goboy** s [dilemma](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=76528). A shy four days after the OP and mere _hours_ after speaking about having and keeping a good job, he posted that he had been let go, noting the irony of the situation himself (I’m only taking it slightly out of context, but the point remains the same.) I’ve noticed it many times in my own life: I’ll mention that I’m really having a great time, I’m getting to really like someone or everything is coming up roses and sure enough, _ **blammo** _, Fate steps in with a reality check. Not a month later, not a week later not even (usually) some time later, but almost as soon as the words come out, life takes a turn. For instance: about a year ago I was downsized but was able to stay with the company through relocation. In my mind, at the time, it was a great thing- I got a huge raise and I got to move near the coast. Bonus bonus, woohoo! The day, _the very day_ I was to drive down from Ohio to NC, my grandfather passed away. I had stayed the night at my parents, sort of a way-point, and had gone out and had a great time with some old friends the night before talking about new opportunities and planning vacations and all that. 6 AM, the phone rings and it’s from Holland. My parents were on the first flight out, I had to hit the road and meet the movers, 600 miles and a coupla’ states away. I’m not even going to get into Fates mighty slapping hand when it comes to my love life! The other thing, and maybe I’m just not as observant of these things so I might have missed them, but it never seems to go the other way. I’ve never found that I’ve been bemoaning my fate, kicking the dirt at the lousy hand I’d been dealt in life when suddenly, out of the blue, roses spring from the street cracks, women swoon at the sound of my voice and money showers me from every passing tree. Nope, not yet, and I think I would have noticed something like that. Do we only notice the bad things? Am I a fear monger? Am I imagining things or should I never again tell the world that things are going my way? Curious and cautious, - **ts** [sub]Who is having an okay time with mediocre friends and ordinary job satisfaction.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/2 "2001-07-09T18:52:56Z")
This is the part where y’all pipe up with your anecdotes and personal observations. TYVM. Okay, another example: I’m zipping down the highway, going here or there and I realize I’m making terrific time and haven’t seen an officer of the law in well over a hundred miles…and there, over the next rise…you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/3 "2001-07-09T19:03:01Z")
I’ve noticed some greater Karmic things - but I don’t know that I’d term them all ‘ironic’. I recall once my son (at age 6 or so) was really pissed at me for some huge sin (something like not letting him run off and play outside since he had a sprained ankle), and he stomped up stairs in disgust. I did call out to him that perhaps stomping on a sore ankle wasn’t the best idea. He admitted later on that it wasn’t. (just didn’t want your ‘serious’ post to languish) ---
**Author:** ![heembo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@heembo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heembo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/4 "2001-07-09T19:05:44Z")
Back when I lived at home with my parents, I would occasionally lose something (not my mind - that came later). While looking for whatever it was I had lost, I would at some point blame it on my brother. “I know he took it, I just _know_ it was him.” As soon as the words were uttered, I would literally trip over whatever it was I was looking for. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/5 "2001-07-09T19:17:49Z")
I’m afraid it is just a case of selective memory. As someone said: if you’re thinking of your mother when the phone rings and when you answer … it’s your aunt then you don’t remember it. Similarly, when you’re happy, you have lots of good memories. So when something sad hits, it sticks. If you’re sad, and bad stuff happens, you do’nt savour the memory. You asked for an anecdote: 12 years ago I was stuck in a dead-end job, after a change of career failed thanks to a deceitful employer. Suddenly I get headhunted for my dream job! The first I knew of it was when they asked me to come for interview. ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/6 "2001-07-09T19:27:23Z")
I know exactly what you’re talking about. You get a good job and the next day, the company you _really_ wanted to work for calls you. You meet someone you totally click with and you’re already involved. You get an airline ticket all paid for and then get an email notification from Travelocity that the ticket price is now $100 under the price you paid. I think the human psyche is hard wired to remember the “bad” things as kind of an evolutionary tool for marking “Danger Ahead”. I know I have lots of good things happen that are ironic, but they are definately harder to remember. I don’t think it’s that we take them for granted; rather, that we see them for the fluke occurrences (sp) they are and don’t depend on them to reoccur. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/7 "2001-07-09T19:38:21Z")
Heh. Only a few weeks ago I was crowing about how having my testacles operated on was leading to some great things, like sex, oversized genitalia, a fast Internet connection, and sobriety. Well, I’m still sober, but I really want my big balls back. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/8 "2001-07-09T19:54:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, I’m still sober, but I really want my big balls back. Cripes. That’s a sig waiting to happen. I’d ask for it myself, but, being a gal and all, never had big balls to begin with. I have a twist on your original version of irony. I notice that things that seem bad eventually work out okay. So I follow the “everything happens for a reason” way of thinking. Case in point: I apply for a job with a former co-worker. Kick ass job, benefits, excellent company, etc. I don’t get it. About 2 months later I’m up for another job and get it. I take it, ruing the fact that I don’t get to work with the co-worker. Turns out, this boss is 10x better and I love it. So it all worked out in the end. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/9 "2001-07-09T20:43:01Z")
**Scout** , that’s good stuff, but what I’m talking about is the 180 degree offsets that happen almost as soon as the thought occurs. My driving vs. the cops and **heembo** s story are really what I’m talking about. No sooner do you think or say something than, _ **poof** _, everything changes. **glee** , I’m sure you and **BunnyGirl** are probably right about the selective memory thing, which is why I asked about the good-vs-bad turn arounds. I’m a firm believer in the “everything happens for a reason” school of thought, but still, there seems to be a disparity in ironic changes of luck. **Sofa** , sorry to hear about your sobriety…uh, I mean balls. Sorry to hear about your balls (you should talk to [Crunchy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=77221).) ---
**Author:** ![Jeannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@Jeannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeannie)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/10 "2001-07-09T22:29:58Z")
Well, this is similar to the “wow, what great traffic, oh no there’s a cop” thing. When I’m driving home, I listen to the radio and pay close attention to the traffic report. Every time they say that it’s clear sailing on the tollway I take, someone will invariably have an accident up ahead, or a truck will roll over, or somehow stop the flow of traffic. Also, on days when I am fairly certain I can get out of work early, something will happen to cause me to have to stay late. This is more likely to happen if I have to be somewhere directly after work. I can also cause it to rain by getting a carwash. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/11 "2001-07-09T22:55:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeannie \* > Well, this is similar to the “wow, what great traffic, oh no there’s a cop” thing. When I’m driving home, I listen to the radio and pay close attention to the traffic report. Every time they say that it’s clear sailing on the tollway I take, someone will invariably have an accident up ahead, or a truck will roll over, or somehow stop the flow of traffic. > > Also, on days when I am fairly certain I can get out of work early, something will happen to cause me to have to stay late. This is more likely to happen if I have to be somewhere directly after work. > > I can also cause it to rain by getting a carwash. As I said above, I think these are just selective memory. If the radio says it’s clear up ahead - **and it stays that way** - do you note it as a counter example to your belief? If you \*\*do get out of work on time \*\*for your appointment, or it **doesn’t rain on your clean car** , would you post that here? Actually , that would be a great thread! ‘Something normal happened to me today’… ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/12 "2001-07-10T01:04:41Z")
Life is sweet! I am engaged to a remarkably beautiful, smart, considerate, sweet-natured woman half my age. I have a job I love (teaching 5th grade). I have a part time job as an instructor at the local university (children’s lit), which is so much fun I’d almost do it for free, but it pays the equivilent of $40 an hour anyway. I paid off my house and car three months ago, effectively giving me an extra $700 in disposable income. I tried to add another $500 to my tax-deferred mutual fund, only to find out that $300 more would put me at the max. My latest statement from my financail advisor indicates that at the rate I’ve been putting money away, I’ll have over a million dollars saved for retirement in addition to my pension. My latest check-up (paid for by employer paid health insurance) showed that I have a cholesterol of 160, with an ldl/hdl ratio of 4.3 to 1, and that my heart is in excellent shape. When I asked about putting my future wife on my health insurance, I found out that the extra cost is entirely employer paid, as it will be for our future children. Summer session at the college ends in a few weeks, and I will have 40 days to do absolutely nothing but read, play computer games, and post to SDMB. Does life get any better than this? Now, according to the “fates” theory, I should be struck by lightening any minute now. It has to end sometime, but I’m damn well going to enjoy it while it lasts. [sub]Then again, maybe this is a roll that will last the **rest of my life**. If that’s not asking for it, I don’t know what is! ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/13 "2001-07-10T01:42:57Z")
You are so, _so_ gonna get screwed. If I were you, I’d make sure all the appliances were completely out of the bathroom before even approaching the tub, I’d wear a dang helmet when golfing and eat only vegi’s I know have been thoroughly washed. Hope it all works out, mate. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/14 "2001-07-10T14:04:01Z")
Is it ironic that I went for job interviews with Company A and Company B, then Company A hired me, then Company B called and offered me a job, but I turned it down because I was working for Company A, then Company A folded, and I lost my job, so I was going to apply for a job with Company B again, but an employee of Company B came to my house to visit a housemate while off work with Glandular Fever, which I caught, which made me so sick that I’ve been unable to work for 5 years now, but my SO supports us both, with his good job at Company B? Or is it just a bunch of stupid stuff that happened to me? ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/15 "2001-07-10T14:29:18Z")
**NumberSix** , I relate to where you’re coming from. I have a wonderful husband, awesome friends (on-line and IRL), I’m healthy as a horse, I have a great job with wonderful benefits, my family is great and I love them dearly, both my cars are running, _some_ disposable income, very little installment debt (in comparison to most). Now, my questions is, when am I gonna get screwed? When is the big B.O.H.I.C.A. (\*_think_, I know you understand that acronym). I was thinking about it this morning, writing in my journal. My life is too good. When is lighting going to strike? Plus, I feel a little ungrateful. I mean, my life _is_ good - but all this goodness can be a tad boring, ya know. I know a lot of people would give their right arm to have my life. I know that, but I still feel like I need some change or for something to happen. Of course, the something that happens never fails to be terrible or tragic. I remember reading a poem by Ogden Nash (I think it was him) that went something like when it’s cold, man wants it hot, when it’s hot, he wants it cold, always wanting what is not. Apropos. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/16 "2001-07-10T15:07:06Z")
**cazzle** , that’s quite a spot of bad luck and certainly, it qualifies as ironic. Wow. Things like that, and I suppose this is a subject for another thread, but things liek that really surprise me with how small in interelated the world, peoples lives and events can be. Hey **Bunny** , it’s like the emperors ring: _“This too shall pass.”_ I can relate, too, I was just trying to hedge my bets with the fine print at the bottom of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/17 "2001-07-10T18:54:22Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Number Six \* … Now, according to the “fates” theory, I should be struck by **lightening** any minute now.[/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BunnyGirl \* > … My life is too good. When is **lighting** going to strike? So Number Six is going on a diet, and BunnyGirl is going to have a lightbulb fall on her head 😕 ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/18 "2001-07-10T19:51:33Z")
D’oh!!! Good catch; I think you got the meaning though. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/19 "2001-07-10T23:03:54Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by glee \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number Six \* > … Now, according to the “fates” theory, I should be struck by **lightening** any minute now.[/QUOTE] > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by BunnyGirl \* > > … My life is too good. When is **lighting** going to strike? > > So Number Six is going on a diet, and BunnyGirl is going to have a lightbulb fall on her head 😕 \*\* Irony: Nit-picking someone’s typos and forgetting the period at the end of your sentence. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828/20 "2001-07-10T23:55:03Z")
This isn’t really serious, but I did find it ironic. I love to cook, but rarely get time to really get into it like I used to before I had little kids hanging around the stove. However, a couple of weeks ago I had a chance to whip up a couple of recipes I’d been craving. (Ethiopian lentil stew…mmmm.) The next day I came down with the first case of strep throat I’d had in about 35 years. Between the pain and the antibiotics, I completely lost my appetite. The stuff is still sitting in the freezer. The good news is that I lost 5 pounds, although I can’t say I recommend that method. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ahhh-irony-its-ironic-isnt-it/71828.md?page=2)