That's the problem with being ironic -- there's always a large part of any audience that doesn't get. It's the very nature of irony. Before we go any further, let's be sure to define irony because there's a lot of confusion on this topic. Here are the definitions from dictionary.com:
1.a. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
b. An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
c. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.
2.a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs: “Hyde noted the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated” (Richard Kain).
b. An occurrence, result, or circumstance notable for such incongruity. See Usage Note at ironic.
3. Dramatic irony.
4. Socratic irony.
First of all, notice there is no mention of coincidence being a form of irony. So when you meet two people named Jesus on the same day, it's not ironic -- not even if it's on Christmas. Meet a guy named Jesus who allows you to die for his own benefit, now that's irony.
In this case, the definition that's of most import is 1.c: A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.
When David and I are working or hanging out together, we often slip -- perhaps too easily -- into a style of discourse that is rarely not ironic. More often than not, the irony is a parody of racist, intolerant people. We'll use phrases like,"we ARE talking about THOSE people, afterall" and "you know how they are." The topic doesn't even have to be race. We could be talking about librarians or chipmunks or Armenian racecar drivers. But we have to be careful.
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the world has been beset by a social plague known as political correctness for more than a decade now. In some cases, I think PC can be a good thing. Anybody with a brain knows that the N-word is cruel and inflammatory. Referring to your female co-workers as "dames," "broads" or "skirts" is a really bad idea. No one should be referred to as a "gimp" or a "mongoloid," even if they are from Mongolia. But a little PC goes a long way. The problem is we don't have just a little PC anymore -- it's choking our verbal and literary discourse to death.
Now, I was quick to embrace "African American." It seemed a reasonable phrase at the time, but it raises a lot of issues. What if the person you are talking about is from another country? Are they African Briton? African French? African South African? And now, the new PC term is "people of color." Kelli and I have spent years reproving our parents for saying "colored people." How in the world am I supposed to explain the difference? Many people have chosen to stick with the tried and true "black people." You and I both know that most people of African descent are not actually black, but I'm not actually white either. But you don't hear me clamoring to be called a "sickly pallid American" do you?
The other problem with irony is that there are far too many people who were born without the irony gene. I know there's no evidence of the irony gene in the Human Genome Project, but that's probably due to the fact that a bunch of humorless scientists ran the project and likely studied their own DNA. Try this as an experiment: go to dinner with a bunch of scientists and then say something like, "we can fake sending man to the moon, but we can't find a way to make a decent cup of coffee." Rather than smirks or chuckles, you'll probably get a table load of socially inept frowns. Then they'll no longer talk to you, but around you the way people awkwardly talk around the handi-capable or the height disadvantaged.
Speaking of which, you tell me which term is more demeaning: midget or little person? I think if I were of short stature and someone called me a "little person," I might have to... I don't know, whatever midgets do to kick some ass.
Those of us with the irony gene have a responsibility to use it, but to do so thoughtfully. In fact, I think we should all agree to only speak ironically around those who we know will understand it, out of sensitivity for those who are irony-challenged. And if you believe that last sentence, I think you have a gap in your genome.
