Why are most people unable to grasp irony online?

Question

Low IQs? Are they "literal thinkers" for whom a rose is always a rose is always a rose is always a rose?

Or they don't read with due care what other people write?

Are metaphors, hyperboles, synecdoches, hyperbatons and metonymies so abstruse that they fly over most cybernauts' heads and fail to indicate that the writer is being amusingly ironic --or even sarcastic?

Answer 1

I have often been mis-understood online, to be fair, I can have a sarcstic way about me, sometimes, it has appeared that my sarcasm was often not understood by recipients, I mean, I can be very funny at times and in sarcasm some irony may exist. Both in written and online comments I have made people sometimes completely miss the point of what I am saying. In face to face talk, others and we can see the nonverbal cues that are a part of our communication, through seeing these in a person, we are much more able to realize or get a better idea of what one is saying. There is no body language online, so people are not afforded those cues that helps one to understand. Even though I know this, I sometimes, too, wanna say, "why don't you get that I was joking?" I could have written that same question. What I find is simplify, simplify, simplify. Though, "dumbing down," my comments, irk me at times. Communication is one of the most difficult things we do, I feel. Even when all the punctuation is on the mark, there are those that just don't get it.
However, once I spoke to a wise man and I told him about my frustration in dealing with some people, "who just don't get it,"
he replied, "maybe it is the one stating that, "some people just don't get it, are not getting it themselves." Peace.

Answer 2

If you are not clear with your words, then no one will understand what you are saying. If no one 'gets' you, then maybe you should rethink the way you write.
I am a writer, and I write humor, which is something that I have to do well or it comes out terrible. I don't rely on my own sense of humor, however, because I am not a trustworthy critic. I know what I mean already. I have a partner who reads my stuff first, and then I make what ever adjustments are necessary to be *clear* in what I am saying
otherwise, just keep trying, there will always be people who appreciate the sarcastic and ironic people of the world

Answer 3

very interesting question. I too have found that people are immune to irony while on the internet. I think this has to do with the form of communication. Most people usually use irony only in the speech form, and leave typing or writing words to stay literal. people that go to school(which is like every1) are taught to write complete sentences and whatnot. it is also harder to tell the tone sombody has with text.

Answer 4

Internet, as you may know, is used by many people.

Updates are frequent, exchange of information is very fast

Thus, no one needs to add flavor to their sentences, no one needs to use figurative speech, and everybody wants everything to be fast.

Or, another reason could be that (in my case) I tend to look into the side that people of different blah blahs come at the internet. I just think of it at "this guy is dumb, oh well, not all persons who use the Internet are that knowledgeable"


I hope your getting what I'm saying.