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by Sloonybartfast on March 17th, 2011
Too many people confuse tragedy or misfortune with irony - there isn't a single example of irony in the entire song (that I've been able to work out), it's just a series of bummers.
Irony is the invisible elephant in the room - the twist that no-one saw coming. An example is Robert A Heinlein's character Maureen Johnson in "To Sail Beyond The Sunset" - a fictitious character vehemently claiming not to be a work of fiction.
"I am not an assemblage of fictions. I was not created by a fabulist. I am a human woman, daughter of human parents, and mother of seventeen boys and girls in my first life and mother of still more in my first rejuvenation. If I am controlled by destiny, then that destiny lies in my genes... not in the broodings of some near-sighted introvert hunched over a roboscriber."
by Echo on April 3rd, 2009
I think of irony as the exact opposite of what you think will or should happen in some instance. It's funny because we were discussing irony in my English class and my professor brought up Alanis Morisette's song. Apparently there is only one "technical" ironic statement in the whole song. He didn't tell us which one it was unfortunately, I was curious.
by PaulES on March 10th, 2009
Irony is technically described as a discrepancy (gap) between what's expected and what actually happens, but it's subtler than that. I find the phrase "the very thing" is useful in explaining this.
Here are examples:
I once was driving down the street and looked up to see a large banner strung over the street. The banner read, "Watch for Pedestrians." I was so busy looking at the sign that I hit a pedestrian! The VERY THING intended to protect the pedestrians actually hurt them. ( Actually, I didn't hit one, but I almost did!)
Here's another example:
Mrs. Smith's kitty-cat was stuck in a tree. She called the firemen and they arrived, put up their ladder, and rescued the kitty. They brought the feline back down and handed it to Mrs. Smith, who was ecstatic to have her baby kitty safe and sound. She petted the cat and then let it loose in the yard. When the firemen were leaving after packing up their gear, they backed up the truck... over the cat!
The VERY THING (or people) intended to help the kitten, actually hurt it.
Another example: Pres. Clinton had the infamous affair with Monica Lowinsky. I don't know, but I can imagine that he told his advisors that it was very important that nothing happen to Ms. Lowinsky, for if it did, it would certainly look as if the President was trying to injure or kill a woman who was doing him harm. So, ironically, it was in his best interest to protect THE VERY woman who was out to hurt him. (This calls to mind the old saying of "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer"-- a somewhat ironic statement.
Another example: (This is a true one.) In one of the many attempts on Hitler's life, the plan was for a member of the elite to strap a bomb to his chest and stand next to Hitler while the Fuhrer was inspecting a munitions plant. This suicide bomber intended to sacrifice himself in order to rid the world of Hitler.
The night before the scheduled munitions plant inspection, the Allies sent bombers over Germany and destroyed the plant. Hence, no plant, no inspection, no chance to kill the Fuhrer.
In an attempt to save lives by destroying the munitions plant, the Allies actually prolonged the life of their worst enemy, and therefore caused the deaths of many more people, the VERY THING they intended to prevent.
Do NOT rely on Alanis Morisette's idiotic song "Isn't It Ironic?" for examples. What she describes are misfortunes, not ironies: a fly in your Chardonnay, rain on your wedding day--these are not ironic. They are merely unfortunate.
Do NOT confuse "irony" with "coincidence." It is INCORRECT to say, "You were born on August 19?? So was I! How ironic!" It is INCORRECT to say, "Ironically, the last time I was at this restaurant, I ordered the same thing you just did!"
Now you know.
by RosieGHM Jetpacker on August 19th, 2008
I'm a retired Accountant. I hated math in school.
by Anon on August 19th, 2008
In Baker Street tube station.
by Anon on August 17th, 2008
I think "Isn't It Ironic" was just intended to rhyme.
Irony to me is Ray Charles on a blind date.
Or an atheist going to heaven.
Or Bill Gates owning a Macintosh.
Or a guy who is about to rape a woman, stopping because he has a headache.
Stuff like that.
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