# Why dont Americans get irony? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774 "2003-06-23T15:21:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/41 "2003-06-23T22:55:53Z")
If it was really important to you that it didn’t rain on your wedding day, and you spent a lot of time studying meteorological records, the Farmer’s Almanac, forecasting tools, etc. to find the day in a 2-month period when it was statistically least likely to rain, and you scheduled your wedding on that day, and then it was the only day in those 2 months when it rained… wouldn’t that be a _little_ ironic? ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/42 "2003-06-23T23:03:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padmaraga \* > Um, \*no, \* C. D. Bales uttered the line in response to 2 men he encountered on the street who were giving him a hard time. Wrong again, **Padmaraga**. C.D. Bales, played by Steve Martin, said the “We don’t get irony around here” line in response to Roxanne’s, played by Darryl Hannah, comment about not wanting a robe to cover up with when she was naked in the bushes outside of her house. Is it coming back to you now? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/43 "2003-06-23T23:05:10Z")
Irony: Chevrolet trying to sell the “Nova” in Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/44 "2003-06-23T23:16:05Z")
From _Roxanne_: > [@](#): > > [Roxanne Kowalski is walking behind a hedge because she is nude] > Roxanne Kowalski: Nobody had a coat? > C.D. Bales: You said you didn’t want a coat… > Roxanne Kowalski: Why would I not want a coat? > C.D. Bales: You said you didn’t want a coat… > Roxanne Kowalski: I was being ironic. > C.D. Bales: Oh, ho, ho, irony! Oh, no, no, we don’t get that here. See, uh, people ski topless here while smoking dope, so irony’s not really a, a high priority. We haven’t had any irony here since about, uh, '83, when I was the only practitioner of it. And I stopped because I was getting tired of being stared at. I always thought it was sarcasm rather than irony… ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/45 "2003-06-24T00:09:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Maureen \* > \*\*Irony: Chevrolet trying to sell the “Nova” in Mexico. \*\* [Urban legend](http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.htm). ---
**Author:** ![\_ceQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b9bd4f/32.png) [@\_ceQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_ceQueen)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/46 "2003-06-24T00:29:46Z")
Oh, puh-lease. There’s irony left and right in every episode of every American sitcom! In scenes like, Fran (looking at her sister Nadine wearing nothing but a silk slip, coming on to her boss she loves): “What are you doing here dressed like you’re over thirty and desperate?” (takes off her terrycloth robe and throws it at Nadine, turning out to be wearing exactly the same slip underneath the robe.) “Oops.” Or anything else where some character proclaims something only to have something contradictory happen in the next instant. There are lots of such moments, which I think characterize American sitcoms. This might not be _subtle_ irony, but it’s irony nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/47 "2003-06-24T02:27:01Z")
Good Lord, this again? Americans are people from the United States. A Canadian is not an American. Canada is not located in a place called “America.” There is no continent called “America.” Canada is located in NORTH AMERICA, so a Canadian could accurately be called a North American, though this is a rarely used term. Alanis Morrissette may for all I know be a naturalized American citizen, but she is in fact a born Canadian, having been born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, which is not in America. Thank you. - Rick, a Canadian ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/48 "2003-06-24T02:34:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > \*\*Well I agree that there is overlap between sarcasm and irony but the remark was merely sarcastic. I see giving an answer opposite to what you mean to ridicule an obvious question is more sarcastic. A falconer wanting to divorce his wife becaus she’s a harpy is more ironic. \*\* And as to this… …You don’t know what irony is, Padeye. Or, more precisely, you are aware of only the concept of verbal irony - like a lot of people you seem to believe that’s the only kind. Irony takes several different forms, and sarcasm is almost invariably ironic. The line from “Roxanne” is very obviously ironic. There are four basic types of irony: - Verbal irony, which you make an example of - Literal irony, as per the “Roxanne” line - Dramatic irony - where characters say things that, unawares to them, do not match facts presented to the audience - Socratic irony - the use of a profession of ignorance to question another person Actually, some of the examples in Alanis Morrissette’s song ARE ironic. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/49 "2003-06-24T03:37:40Z")
\*\* Why don’t Americans get irony?\*\* Oh, I don’t know. Maybe for the same reason that Brits love Benny Hill? That was sarcasm, by the way. And I know at least one Brit by birth that doesn’t love Benny Hill. Seriously, though, I understand your point of view. There’s a certain type of ironic humor that is not always received well by the general public in the States. I think you’ll find that it’s partially cultural in terms of what you’ve been exposed to growing up. For those of us who came of age in the Monty Python era and maybe beyond, it seems to be much more well-received. I know my children, having been brought up with two very sarcastically-inclined, Python-quoting parents, definitely appreciate and produce that type of humor. I also think it has something to do with a certain type of intelligence. You need to be able to process the statements being made quickly and in such a way that you understand the context and interpret the intonation of what’s being said. Now, if you want to talk about a culture, generally speaking, that does not appreciate either sarcasm or irony, go to Italy and watch tv. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/50 "2003-06-24T04:42:53Z")
Most of us can’t afford imported British irony because of the high tarriffs imposed by our federal government to protect the homegrown American humor industry. If we got irony, then the market for our own frat-boy, sexist, racist, insensitive, and juvenile gross-out bodily function and rude behavior based humor might collapse. This would be quickly followed by the implosion of the market for home video clip shows of funny babies, pratfalls involving fat people and the elderly, and men being hit in the crotch by flying objects and hyperactive children. Next to go would be the profitable market for cloying sitcoms starring over the hill stand up comedians paired up with pre-fab families of wives too attractive for the comedian and smart-ass cute kids. These shows make most of their money from syndicated reruns and overseas sales. If these shows were to vanish, it could result in a worldwide comedy collapse and depression leading to a surge in sales of Franz Kafka books and more people becoming sensitive singer/songwriters than the market could ever hope to support. Imagine a world filled with Dan Fogelberg and Jewel wannabes. So we don’t get irony for our own protection. But who is responsible for saving us from this fate, while at the same time denying us the decadent joys of British irony? Carrot Top. We should all sleep better at night knowing he’s on the job for the good old U-S of A! ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/51 "2003-06-24T04:54:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Fran (looking at her sister Nadine wearing nothing but a silk slip, coming on to her boss she loves): “What are you doing here dressed like you’re over thirty and desperate?” (takes off her terrycloth robe and throws it at Nadine, turning out to be wearing exactly the same slip underneath the robe.) “Oops.” Eh, you saw that today too? It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who watches reruns of the Nanny. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/52 "2003-06-24T07:38:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > \*\*I concur with what **toadspittle** said about American vs. British delivery. I’d add that when I was an exchange student in Spain, most of my American friends had precisely the same complaint about _Spanish_ people that Brits have about Americans; I suspect that the real problem is that Spaniards aren’t familiar with the facial expressions or inflection Americans typically use to communicate irony. \*\* I think you’re on to something here. I’ve always been baffled by this British myth about American humor. I’ll put down American culture when it’s warranted, but I generally find British humor to be less subtle than most American humor. The myth seems to have grown from the fact that we don’t get your irony and you don’t get ours. Irony doesn’t travel across cultures. Why Brits have decided that this means that Americans like an irony gene I don’t know. Plus, the comedy that gets exported tends to be more slapstick, because it’s universal. The British comedy most people in the world are familiar with is _Benny Hill_ and _Mr. Bean_. And _America’s Funniest Home Videos_-type shows are found in every country, as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/53 "2003-06-24T07:55:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > \*\*I’m an American and I can’t get irony. Maybe I need a Sarcasm-Meter. \*\* Okay, maybe I’m just sleepy, but that really DID make me laugh out loud, accompanyied by a goofy little snort (ala Chrissy Snow) even!! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/54 "2003-06-24T10:19:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\* > > Actually, some of the examples in Alanis Morrissette’s song ARE ironic. \*\* Okat, now you’re just being sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/55 "2003-06-24T10:54:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\* > > Actually, some of the examples in Alanis Morrissette’s song ARE ironic. \*\* So the irony is that people complain that the lyrics are not ironic when they really are? 😃 Generally speaking, I don’t find irony all that amusing. I get it, but it usually isn’t funny, it’s sad. ---
**Author:** ![Planet\_of\_the\_Shapes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Planet\_of\_the\_Shapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Planet_of_the_Shapes)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/56 "2003-06-24T13:29:34Z")
I think this whole irony thing is a little overdone. As poster on this board have said, Americans do get irony. I do think British humour is lot more dry than American though, as a whole. And something Bill Bryson said in one his books might be relevant - he thought that humour is much more valued in the UK than the US. The way he put it was that if you asked a Brit to chose between having a sense of humour or being rich he would chose a sense of humour. An american would be more likely to chose being rich. I’ve never been to the US in my adult life though, so he might have been talking total bollocks for all i know. ---
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/57 "2003-06-24T13:46:44Z")
Jesus, I’m sick of people bashing Alanis’s song. Did anyone stop to think that maybe she wrote it because it’s IRONIC that her song entitled IRONIC doesn’t have much to do with IRONY? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/58 "2003-06-24T13:49:11Z")
Nope. Did you ever stop to think that she wasn’t being ironic and is just a poor songwriter? ---
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/59 "2003-06-24T16:15:18Z")
Yep. How could I not, with cynical old people like you feeling the need to broadcast criticism about it all the time? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774/60 "2003-06-24T16:29:52Z")
What makes you think I’m either? Isn’t it possible she completely misunderstood the meaning of the word “ironic”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-get-irony/183774.md?page=4)