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Yes, indeed. And up above I demonstrate the classic Ironist's Trap: <i>Hmmm</i>, bloody hell, they don't get it. Mental face-palm. <i>Now</i> what?

Option 1: Double down and stay in character, but deploy "voice" in full-on absurd, over-the-top architecture; hoping the "audience" catches the quickly-disappearing anchor rope and allows one the opportunity to haul oneself back in from oblivion. <i>Right.</i> Deploy option 1 ... ... oh, <i>bollocks</i> [leans over gunwale and watches end of anchor rope slip into the inky depths].

Option 2: Explain the irony in enough detail so as to provide an exit to all parties - thus stopping the bleeding. (This I also demonstrated above, and it appears to have indeed stopped the hemorrhaging.) Part of Option 2 may well be, as Chichikovovich's example demonstrates, further explaining to the "audience" that your already deployed irony was not meant to mock them or what is important to them; but is in fact the exact opposite. That you have in fact attempted to display a kinship and an understanding of exactly that which is important to them by recognizing the gravity of their feelings, and as such employed said irony in an effort to provide them a brief respite from said gravity (of feelings). This last part is a messy, most uncomfortable exercise; made necessary if one ever wishes in future to have any credibility with the "audience." If circumstances force one to this last part of Option 2, the recovery rate, should the "audience" be a new or budding acquaintance, is so slim as to be near non-existent.

Option 3: Create an exit (Acme Hole and Tunnel Paint works well here) and beat a hastened retreat; sometimes just metaphorically, sometimes physically. This option can include distraction and bold deployment of conversation-redirection.

Lessons to be learned: Irony-as-Comedy (as opposed to it being used as a weapon) is nearly all about knowing your audience - and <i>they</i> knowing <i>you</i>. It is a Pandora's Box if you wish to remain on speaking terms after-the-fact. It is a perilous art form, and should be deployed with due diligence and caution.

[Bell rings] <i>Now</i>, don't forget that test next Wednesday, people - chapters <i>3</i> through <i>8</i> of your <i>Philosophy of Comedy</i> text. It's a quarter of your grade!

(Now <i>this</i> paragraph directly above is an example of <i>Mocking-One's-Self</i>. It is meant here to demonstrate that I am fully aware of my long-winded lecturing monologue, and yet still wish you to at least good-naturedly chuckle and indulge me my comedy misfires; as they are always deployed with the best of intentions. Irony, also.)

Have a great weekend. Cheers.

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Injecting straight-faced irony into a "serious discussion" is risky unless your interlocutor actually knows you, or at least your conversational style, fairly well.

I provisionally assume that all comments from recognizable Wonkameraden are intended as snark, unless accompanied by a disclaimer.

After Friday night, I feel quite confident in this.

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BUT WHAT DOES SARAH PALIN THINK???

Oh, shit, I was just kidding.

Someone actually fucking asked her... <a href="http:\/\/www.capitolcolumn.com\/news\/sarah-palin-rices-pro-choice-stance-is-immaterial-for-vp-position\/" target="_blank">" rel="nofollow noopener" title="http://www.capitolcolumn.com/news/sarah-palin-ric...">http://www.capitolcolumn.co...

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I pout in solidarity with you, friend...even though you have a high enough score that I should probably think of you as a Wonk 1%-er.

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Condi and the Clam Bumpers

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It's always been a dream of mine to have a tan, lovely, and naked young woman touch her toes while standing in front of my Bugatti.

Alas, I am poor.

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Aw shucks...on my end at least, it looks like the toe touching hotty has been replaced by boring old "save the earth blah blah blah ads".

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And what pert guns she has.

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Well, to be fair, it WAS Greta. BFF's always tell each other everything.

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The Money Quote: <i>“She has much more experience than our sitting President does today,” Ms. Palin continued.</i>

Not that I'm surprised, but... This. Makes. No. Sense.

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My follow up question would be "Why are you such a douche?" and he'd probably give the same answer.

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I once prepared a list of questions I'd ask Romney, but I think I can limit it to one: How would your administration be different than George W. Bush's, both in terms of policy and management style?

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Somehow that barely affected his popularity, either...sadly.

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OT, but...

Learn About Mutually Beneficial Arrangements

I'm not clicking that so, W.T.F?

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This place is sanity-preserving, in part because I don't know who any of you wits really are... but even more because I can stay cloaked behind my handle if I choose.

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well, to be fair, she WAS the presumptive nominee.

(she's much better as sec of state)

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