Toates Madhackrviper
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:20:57 GMT -5
Post by Toates Madhackrviper on Jan 25, 2013 14:20:57 GMT -5
The thread in the WWE section about this made me bring back up a thought that I've had a few time about the use of the word ironic. Its just sort of a different view of this often discussed issue of linguistics that I'm not sure has been really presented before actually? I'm not sure I fully believe it myself but I think its an interesting perspective worth considering.
Lets face it... the definition of “ironic” has changed within the popular mindset. Its simply not used the way it used to be. English experts will often point this out... usually with some level of derision or distaste for the people "misusing the word". But… language obviously evolves and changes over time. We aren’t speaking the same English language we did even like century ago. So whats wrong with just… letting go and allowing the definition of the word to change? Honestly the changed definition of the word is actually a lot more useful for day to day use anyway. Maybe its just time to let it be?
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:33:46 GMT -5
Post by SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts on Jan 25, 2013 14:33:46 GMT -5
Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?
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The Ichi
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:36:40 GMT -5
Post by The Ichi on Jan 25, 2013 14:36:40 GMT -5
Except the definition of the word is the same as it's always been.
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Crappler El 0 M
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:40:51 GMT -5
Post by Crappler El 0 M on Jan 25, 2013 14:40:51 GMT -5
Just because I don't want to come off like a ass, I'll let it go a lot of times, but it does sort of bother me.
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:44:28 GMT -5
Post by TK The Friendly Robot on Jan 25, 2013 14:44:28 GMT -5
Except the definition of the word is the same as it's always been. That's what he's saying, the definition is still the same but it's not being used popularly with the correct definition. So instead of bitching why don't we let language evolve and change what it means to suit it's popular use.
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:45:46 GMT -5
Post by darbus alan on Jan 25, 2013 14:45:46 GMT -5
A large amount of people using the word wrong just means a large amount of people are wrong.
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The Ichi
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:47:27 GMT -5
Post by The Ichi on Jan 25, 2013 14:47:27 GMT -5
Except the definition of the word is the same as it's always been. That's what he's saying, the definition is still the same but it's not being used popularly with the correct definition. So instead of bitching why don't we let language evolve and change what it means to suit it's popular use. Are you asking us to continue being wrong?
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metylerca
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:51:17 GMT -5
Post by metylerca on Jan 25, 2013 14:51:17 GMT -5
That's what he's saying, the definition is still the same but it's not being used popularly with the correct definition. So instead of bitching why don't we let language evolve and change what it means to suit it's popular use. Are you asking us to continue being wrong? Seems as though he is asking to metaphorically move the fences in, so the misusing is "less wrong." Personally I dislike when people use it wrong as well
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Toates Madhackrviper
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:55:54 GMT -5
Post by Toates Madhackrviper on Jan 25, 2013 14:55:54 GMT -5
I'm sure a lot of things about the way we use English today would seem "wrong" to someone from Old England. Or even early America. Or f*** it even our own grandparents grew up with a slightly different English than we use now.
So I don't know why this one word has to be such a point of contention for everyone. The popular usage is a lot more useful of a word anyway. And it wouldn't be the first word to have a "popular definition" and an "academic definition" either so its not like its use for literature and theater couldn't still be used in those circles...
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 14:58:48 GMT -5
Post by darbus alan on Jan 25, 2013 14:58:48 GMT -5
I don't know why people who don't know what "ironic" actually means continue to use it in such a wrong fashion either. It seems we're at a crossroads.
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 15:06:23 GMT -5
Post by Triple H buried SnS on Jan 25, 2013 15:06:23 GMT -5
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 15:08:49 GMT -5
Post by KofiMania on Jan 25, 2013 15:08:49 GMT -5
That's what he's saying, the definition is still the same but it's not being used popularly with the correct definition. So instead of bitching why don't we let language evolve and change what it means to suit it's popular use. Are you asking us to continue being wrong? Language exists for us to communicate things. Definitions are added to words all of the time as language evolves. If enough people use a word in a certain way, eventually the meaning of the word changes with it. So it wouldn't be "wrong".
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Toates Madhackrviper
King Koopa
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This avatar is so far out of date I might as well stick with it forever now.
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 15:14:54 GMT -5
Post by Toates Madhackrviper on Jan 25, 2013 15:14:54 GMT -5
I don't know why people who don't know what "ironic" actually means continue to use it in such a wrong fashion either. It seems we're at a crossroads. Well, personally, I actually know what the actual definition is. I continue to use it the "wrong" way though because I find the "wrong" use of the word to be really useful in day to day life... unlike the "correct" use which has really only ever been useful in academic life. Its just a convenient word for me to use because most people know what I'm getting at and there's no really another word that quite fits the meaning. And no... "coincidental" doesn't quite mean the same thing to me. I don't know... I've always been the type to see language/English as a more fluid thing that you use how you see fit and whatever seems the best way to say what you want to say rather than a strict system with strict rules. I find the rigidity of language very... boring. I understand and agree that language needs rules when it comes to academic pursuits but for casual conversation who the hell cares... For casual conversation (online or real life I should add) who the hell cares. I'm repeating that line because I think its pretty central to the point I'm trying to make.
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Toates Madhackrviper
King Koopa
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This avatar is so far out of date I might as well stick with it forever now.
Posts: 10,737
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 15:15:35 GMT -5
Post by Toates Madhackrviper on Jan 25, 2013 15:15:35 GMT -5
Are you asking us to continue being wrong? Language exists for us to communicate things. Definitions are added to words all of the time as language evolves. If enough people use a word in a certain way, eventually the meaning of the word changes with it. So it wouldn't be "wrong". Exactly.
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Bobeddy
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 15:15:43 GMT -5
Post by Bobeddy on Jan 25, 2013 15:15:43 GMT -5
Are you asking us to continue being wrong? Language exists for us to communicate things. Definitions are added to words all of the time as language evolves. If enough people use a word in a certain way, eventually the meaning of the word changes with it. So it wouldn't be "wrong". Wait, how are we defining 'wrong'?
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The Ichi
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Ironic
Jan 25, 2013 15:17:02 GMT -5
Post by The Ichi on Jan 25, 2013 15:17:02 GMT -5
Are you asking us to continue being wrong? Language exists for us to communicate things. Definitions are added to words all of the time as language evolves. If enough people use a word in a certain way, eventually the meaning of the word changes with it. So it wouldn't be "wrong". I agree with you to an extent, but this isn't really a case of the meaning being changed, it's a case of a word being used incorrectly because people think they had the meaning right (and I'll admit, I've done it before) but were off. This isn't evolution of a word, it's just people getting a word wrong a lot.
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Ironic
Jan 26, 2013 5:28:53 GMT -5
Post by Secret Clown on Jan 26, 2013 5:28:53 GMT -5
It's still better than people using literally wrong. That annoys me more than ironic.
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The Ichi
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Ironic
Jan 26, 2013 9:22:51 GMT -5
Post by The Ichi on Jan 26, 2013 9:22:51 GMT -5
It's still better than people using literally wrong. That annoys me more than ironic.
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Deleted
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Ironic
Jan 26, 2013 12:01:12 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 12:01:12 GMT -5
From Merriam-Webster:
1: a pretense of ignorance and of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other’s false conceptions conspicuous by adroit questioning —called also Socratic irony
2: a) the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning b) a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony c) an ironic expression or utterance
3: a) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result; an event or result marked by such incongruity b) incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play —called also dramatic irony, tragic irony
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Ironic
Jan 26, 2013 12:35:14 GMT -5
Post by MGH on Jan 26, 2013 12:35:14 GMT -5
A large amount of people using the word wrong just means a large amount of people are wrong. THANK YOU. As though the five seconds it would take to learn the actual proper use of it is too much of a chore.
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