Monday, June 23, 2008

Isn't it ironic? Well, we're glad you asked.

I'm not sure how it got started, but over the past several months, Carrie and I have been trapped in an endless discussion over what is—and more importantly—what is not ironic. (Seriously, this is the type of shit we talk about when we're out to eat together, screw politics, art or the modern-day impact of ancient Mayan civilizations, we want to find out if that Alanis Morissette is full of crap or not—which as it turns out she is.)

Here are a couple of examples of so-called irony we've debated.

1) A couple of weeks ago there was an artist talk on campus by Larry Schwarm, a world-renowned photographer who happens to be from Greensburg and was there to photograph the aftermath of last year's tornado. In and of itself, no big deal, but the presentation was canceled due to a tornado warning. (The jury is still somewhat out on this one, but my vote is "not ironic.")

2) Back to Alanis, is it ironic that Alanis Morissette's song "Ironic" is actually just a list of coincidences? (Despite my earlier attempt to say it was, I am now leaning toward "not ironic.")

3) When we purchased our new car we had them Scotchgard the interior, however before it could fully dry there were water spots all over the dash and console which made us ask: "Would it be ironic if what we sprayed to protect our car from unsightly stains actually stained our car?" (100% grade-A irony).

That's just what comes to mind right now, there have been dozens more.

What's your vote? Got your own example?

Maybe this will help.

Let us take you down with us.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Yeah, of course I'm gonna comment on this one! Who wants to talk about politics? I agree that #3 is grade A irony, and that Alanis is just an idiot (and has ruined irony in america as a result). I'm thinking #1 is a little ironic. But again, sort of just coincidental... I'm torn.