# North Korea bans sarcasm **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 8, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343 "2016-09-08T17:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/41 "2016-09-09T14:34:06Z")
Something tells me that he must have discovered this site, and the Teeming Millions. Why else outlaw sarcasm? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/42 "2016-09-09T14:41:10Z")
Disloyalty is punishable by death. But people being people, they figured out how to say the right words with sarcasm to mean something slightly different. I love that they outlawed “This is all America’s fault”. Their government has blamed pretty much every problem ever on the USA since day 1, and the people know that’s a bunch of shit. And all of this is pretty much one big public admission that their government is an illegitimate, corrupt failure. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/43 "2016-09-09T15:29:34Z")
What would you say to a little fuck? Hi, Kim Jong-un! (totally not sarcastic) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/44 "2016-09-09T15:32:36Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Shortly thereafter, “Excessive Smiling and/or Laughter” will be made a crime. Somehow I don’t think that excessive smiling is a big problem in North Korea. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/45 "2016-09-09T15:54:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Somehow I don’t think that excessive smiling is a big problem in North Korea. > > Regards, > Shodan This is kind of what I was thinking. Wouldn’t one have to possess a sense of humor to be sarcastic? I wonder if the majority of people there even really grasp the concept. Am I the only one who read the article with Seth Myers’s voice their head? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/46 "2016-09-09T15:58:13Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Wouldn’t one have to possess a sense of humor to be sarcastic? I wonder if the majority of people there even really grasp the concept. What? They’re people. Just like you, just like me. Due to circumstances, it’s dangerous to show a sense of humor, but that doesn’t mean most of them don’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/47 "2016-09-09T17:33:42Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > What? They’re people. Just like you, just like me. Due to circumstances, it’s dangerous to show a sense of humor, but that doesn’t mean most of them don’t have one. Laughter may or may not come naturally but I don’t think sarcasm does. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/48 "2016-09-09T17:33:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Somehow I don’t think that excessive smiling is a big problem in North Korea. > > Regards, > Shodan Which is clearly why is must be counter-revolutionary in intent! ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/49 "2016-09-09T17:41:23Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Laughter may or may not come naturally but I don’t think sarcasm does. Due, of course, to your extensive study of the sociocultural origins of sarcasm around the world. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/50 "2016-09-09T17:47:51Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Due, of course, to your extensive study of the sociocultural origins of sarcasm around the world. Nope. Just a wag. That’s why I used the words “I don’t think” instead of providing a cite. Does my supposition offend you in some way or are you just being snotty about it because we’re in the pit and you somehow thing it’s mandatory? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/51 "2016-09-09T17:49:13Z")
(other group) doesn’t have (standard human characteristic) is never a good place to start. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/52 "2016-09-09T18:08:45Z")
Yeah, but its OK, they don’t feel pain like we do. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/53 "2016-09-09T18:09:27Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > (other group) doesn’t have (standard human characteristic) is never a good place to start. I get that but I don’t consider sarcasm to be a standard human characteristic. It’s a specific, learned brand of humor that doesn’t seem would be developed in a place where people aren’t exposed to a lot outside of what their government allows them to be exposed to. I don’t know about you but I had to learn to be sarcastic and that came largely from movies and tv. Isn’t their media extremely limited? Maybe I’m dead wrong. I didn’t imply that they are stupid or subhuman. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/54 "2016-09-09T18:19:16Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I get that but I don’t consider sarcasm to be a standard human characteristic. It’s a specific, learned brand of humor that doesn’t seem would be developed in a place where people aren’t exposed to a lot outside of what their government allows them to be exposed to. I don’t know about you but I had to learn to be sarcastic and that came largely from movies and tv. Isn’t their media extremely limited? Maybe I’m dead wrong. I didn’t imply that they are stupid or subhuman. I think it could come naturally. I’ve heard children say things in complete earnest without realizing the absurdity of their comments. The rest of the audience could find that funny and then learn from the experience. Then the next person does something similar hoping for a similar response. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/55 "2016-09-09T18:32:33Z")
But just think how much better the world would be when people actually say what’s on their mind instead of saying one thing but meaning another. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/56 "2016-09-09T18:35:04Z")
It would be a lot quieter. Not right away, but pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/57 "2016-09-09T18:39:30Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > But just think how much better the world would be when people actually say what’s on their mind instead of saying one thing but meaning another. :dubious: Is this directed at me? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/58 "2016-09-09T19:11:10Z")
Sarcasm must have been running rampant in North Korea. Why else the need to ban it? Fearless Leader: Who is the most charismatic, fearless, strongest, big-penised leader in the world? Common Citizen: Oh, it’s _definitely_ you! ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/59 "2016-09-09T20:27:35Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Does my supposition offend you in some way or are you just being snotty about it because we’re in the pit and you somehow thing it’s mandatory? I just wanted to feel the thrill of being a lawbreaker. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343/60 "2016-09-09T21:22:56Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Sarcasm must have been running rampant in North Korea. Why else the need to ban it? > Fearless Leader: Who is the most charismatic, fearless, strongest, big-penised leader in the world? > Common Citizen: Oh, it’s _definitely_ you! Fearless Leader: Who is the most charismatic, fearless, strongest, big-penised leader in the world? Common Citizen: This is all America’s fault! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-korea-bans-sarcasm/765343.md?page=4)