Beliefs

Isn’t It Ironic? Don’t Cha Think?

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 Isn’t it Ironic? Bad Luck is Not Necessarily Ironic

Isn’t it ironic? I am sure that I am not the first person to take issue with Alanis Morrisette and her song Ironic.  But I heard it today and have to point out once and for all, the many examples she provided of things that weren’t ironic at all.  

Alanis Morrisette Ironic
Alanis Thinking about irony,

I hope that by pointing these out in detail, people will understand what irony really is, and may be able to identify it in their own lives.

Isn’t it Ironic

Let’s start with the definition of irony-

WHEN THE LITERAL MEANING IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THE INTENDED MEANING, THAT IS IRONY.  
or if you want to add a little more depth: 

  • Definition of Dramatic – A situation in which the audience knows something about present or future circumstances that the character does not know

  • Definition of Verbal –  A contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is meant

  • Definition of Situational – A contradiction of expectation between what might be expected and what actually occurs often connected to a fatalistic or pessimistic view of life

The word “irony” is among the most commonly misused (and misunderstood) words in the English language. Most people think that irony means a juxtaposition of opposites.
Now let’s look at all of the examples from Alanis Morrisette’s song, Ironic, and evaluate if  they are in fact……….Ironic.
An old man turned ninety-eight,  He won the lottery and died the next day
THIS IS NOT IRONIC, IT IS A LITTLE TRAGIC AND DEFINITELY BAD LUCK, BUT IRONIC? It does not fit any of the definitions.
It’s a black fly in your Chardonnay
DO YOU CONSIDER THIS IRONY, I DON’T.  IT COULD HAVE BEEN BUG SEASON, BUT CALLING A DEAD INSECT IN YOU BEVERAGE IRONY IS NOT ACCURATE.  THIS IS JUST THE CIRCLE OF LIFE. ALANNIS KNOWS THIS. 
It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late
THIS AGAIN FALLS INTO THE BAD LUCK CATEGORY, OR EVEN THE TRAGIC CATEGORY, BUT NOT IRONY.
And isn’t it ironic… don’t you think.  
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!It’s like rain on your wedding day
HOW CAN RAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY BE IRONIC?  MIGHT CHANGE THE PICTURE LOCATIONS AND IS UNFORTUNATE DEFINITELY, BUT NOT IRONIC.
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
ALREADY PAYING MAKES THE RIDE NOT FREE, SO THIS STATEMENT IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY, BUT ALSO NOT IRONIC.  IT’S LIKE SAYING AFTER I PAID FOR MY HOUSE THE BANK GAVE IT TO ME.
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take.
IF YOU AREN’T SMART ENOUGH TO FOLLOW GOOD ADVICE, YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE.  NOT IRONIC IF YOU HAVE POOR JUDGMENT.
Who would’ve thought… it figures
NOT ALANIS, I GUESS.
Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly,  He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight And as the plane crashed down he thought
“Well isn’t this nice…”
A PLANE CRASH IS NOT IRONIC, AND IF YOU WERE AFRAID TO FLY YOU WOULDN’T BE WAITING YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO TAKE A FLIGHT, YOU PROBABLY HAD A PREMONITION WARNING YOU THAT IF YOU FLY YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.  PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR INSTINCTS BUT DON’T CALL IT IRONIC WHEN YOU DON’T.
And isn’t it ironic… don’t you think      
 STILL NO!!!!!!It’s like rain on your wedding day
STILL NOT IRONIC!
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
STILL IMPOSSIBLE AND NOT IRONIC
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take
STILL POOR JUDGMENT IN AND OF ITSELF DOESN’T CREATE IRONY
Who would’ve thought… it figuresWell life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything’s okay and everything’s going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything’s gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face
THE FACT THAT YOU THINK LIFE IS SNEAKING UP ON YOU LIKE A CRIMINAL SHOWS PARANOIA BUT NOT IRONY
A traffic jam when you’re already late
YOU CAN’T BLAME TRAFFIC ON IRONY, SMALL TRANSPORTATION BUDGETS AND PEOPLE WHO CAN’T DRIVE, YES BUT IRONY,  NOT!
A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
YOU SHOULDN’T BE SMOKING ANYWAY, BUT A SIGN DOES NOT LEAD TO IRONY.  JUST BETTER HEALTH.
It’s like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
THIS DOESN’T EVEN MAKE SENSE, THEY ARE NOT EVEN TRYING FOR IRONY, JUST CUTLERY.
It’s meeting the man of my dreams, And then meeting his beautiful wife
TOUGH LUCK, HONEY, MANY PEOPLE ARE ALREADY IN RELATIONSHIPS.  IS IT IRONY THEY DIDN’T SPEND THE LAST 10 YEARS WAITING FOR YOU TO DROP BY AND SAY HELLO.  GET OUT MORE.  OH, YEAH, THIS ISN’T IRONY EITHER.
And isn’t it ironic…don’t you think
NO, NOT AT ALL.
A little too ironic…and, yeah, I really do think…
NO YOU CLEARLY DO NOT THINK
It’s like rain on your wedding day
UNLUCKY, NOT IRONIC
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
ALWAYS IMPOSSIBLE, PLEASE TAKE AN ECONOMICS CLASS, AND A PHILOSOPHY CLASS AND A BASIC ENGLISH CLASS
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take
BECAUSE YOUR NOT VERY BRIGHT
Who would’ve thought… it figures
BASED ON YOUR RECORD OF CONSISTENCY WHEN IT COMES TO RECOGNIZING AND GIVING EXAMPLES OF IRONY, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT AND FIGURED THAT YOU WOULD NEVER FIGURE IT OUT.Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

LIFE CAN HELP YOU OUT, AND WON’T USUALLY SNEAK UP ON YOU LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.

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