Would those living in a “perfect society” not understand satireHow would society react if someone finds...
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Would those living in a “perfect society” not understand satire
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I wrote a little short story about a classroom in the distant future, where the world becomes "perfect", and the students are analyzing works of satire from different periods. The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide. He and his students believe this because the things that could be criticized are so minuscule that sarcasm has become unnecessary. Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
social-norms dystopia
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
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add a comment |
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I wrote a little short story about a classroom in the distant future, where the world becomes "perfect", and the students are analyzing works of satire from different periods. The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide. He and his students believe this because the things that could be criticized are so minuscule that sarcasm has become unnecessary. Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
social-norms dystopia
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
New contributor
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
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" Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?": It all depends on whether there actually is something to criticize or not. Old joke from the days of Communist power: a guy hails a taxi and tells the driver to take him to Principle. The driver says that he doesn't know where that is; the guy replies that it must be some well-known place, because the Party leadership always says that "in Principle we have solved all our problems".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Satire and sarcasm are definitely NOT the same thing. One is a subtle suggestion that things need to be improved, the other is a deliberate attempt to put down the other person. Satire is an approach for positive change, sarcasm is an approach to conflict and negativity.
$endgroup$
– Justin Thyme
30 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I wrote a little short story about a classroom in the distant future, where the world becomes "perfect", and the students are analyzing works of satire from different periods. The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide. He and his students believe this because the things that could be criticized are so minuscule that sarcasm has become unnecessary. Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
social-norms dystopia
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
New contributor
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I wrote a little short story about a classroom in the distant future, where the world becomes "perfect", and the students are analyzing works of satire from different periods. The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide. He and his students believe this because the things that could be criticized are so minuscule that sarcasm has become unnecessary. Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
social-norms dystopia
social-norms dystopia
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
New contributor
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
New contributor
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
New contributor
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
asked 2 hours ago
ScytheLucifer478ScytheLucifer478
112
112
New contributor
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
ScytheLucifer478 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$begingroup$
" Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?": It all depends on whether there actually is something to criticize or not. Old joke from the days of Communist power: a guy hails a taxi and tells the driver to take him to Principle. The driver says that he doesn't know where that is; the guy replies that it must be some well-known place, because the Party leadership always says that "in Principle we have solved all our problems".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Satire and sarcasm are definitely NOT the same thing. One is a subtle suggestion that things need to be improved, the other is a deliberate attempt to put down the other person. Satire is an approach for positive change, sarcasm is an approach to conflict and negativity.
$endgroup$
– Justin Thyme
30 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
" Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?": It all depends on whether there actually is something to criticize or not. Old joke from the days of Communist power: a guy hails a taxi and tells the driver to take him to Principle. The driver says that he doesn't know where that is; the guy replies that it must be some well-known place, because the Party leadership always says that "in Principle we have solved all our problems".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Satire and sarcasm are definitely NOT the same thing. One is a subtle suggestion that things need to be improved, the other is a deliberate attempt to put down the other person. Satire is an approach for positive change, sarcasm is an approach to conflict and negativity.
$endgroup$
– Justin Thyme
30 mins ago
$begingroup$
" Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?": It all depends on whether there actually is something to criticize or not. Old joke from the days of Communist power: a guy hails a taxi and tells the driver to take him to Principle. The driver says that he doesn't know where that is; the guy replies that it must be some well-known place, because the Party leadership always says that "in Principle we have solved all our problems".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
" Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?": It all depends on whether there actually is something to criticize or not. Old joke from the days of Communist power: a guy hails a taxi and tells the driver to take him to Principle. The driver says that he doesn't know where that is; the guy replies that it must be some well-known place, because the Party leadership always says that "in Principle we have solved all our problems".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Satire and sarcasm are definitely NOT the same thing. One is a subtle suggestion that things need to be improved, the other is a deliberate attempt to put down the other person. Satire is an approach for positive change, sarcasm is an approach to conflict and negativity.
$endgroup$
– Justin Thyme
30 mins ago
$begingroup$
Satire and sarcasm are definitely NOT the same thing. One is a subtle suggestion that things need to be improved, the other is a deliberate attempt to put down the other person. Satire is an approach for positive change, sarcasm is an approach to conflict and negativity.
$endgroup$
– Justin Thyme
30 mins ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
No.
Your "perfect society" is far from one.
The teacher makes a factually untrue statement about the people of the old world. The government essentially tries to brainwash people to believe there is nothing to criticize. This is an authoritarian system that is fundamentally delusional about itself and detached from reality. A society acting like this would almost certainly be highly inefficient and corrupt. And people would deal with it with sarcasm and satire.
Also, sarcasm and satire are not actually forms of criticism. They are ways to deal with issues that for one reason or another cannot be criticized. A "perfect society" that genuinely had very little real issues would be positively full a satire and sarcasm. I mean, after they installed that weather control system we can't even complain about the weather. And what are we supposed to make fun of if all the politicians are honest and competent? This is the worst government EVER! (Except for all the governments that came before it.)
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
'The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of
the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide'
And exactly how does the teacher do this without being sarcastic of the people from the 'old world'?
It seems that the power brokers of this world maintain their grip over society by actually USING sarcasm and satire against the 'opposition' (old world).
The issue I have is in the use of the word 'teacher'. Is this person a 'teacher' as in 'guiding the development of intelligence' or an 'indoctrinator' as in 'instilling an ideology'?
If the students are not completely brainwashed and intellectually numbed, and the teacher is indeed attempting to promote intellectual discourse instead of wrote learning, I am sure that with enough exposure and experience they would eventually understand that indeed the lesson was entirely sarcastic.
If the students are completely brainwashed, as in the 'Fahrenheit 451' meme, this society would be stagnant and terminally so, and the question would be moot. Hopefully, there will be no blue koolaid.
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There is no such thing as a "Perfect" society. When one aspect of the society becomes "perfect" (by whose standard?), it requires other aspects to become imperfect.
For example, if there is no more death, suffering of health or mental diseases, etc, then (a) goodby healthcare profession, insurance, and politics - which destroys the hopes and dreams of many - and (b) no more death = shit ton of people alive across time. Do you implement population control? That's forced oppression against people's desires to have children. Even if everyone "just chose" not to have any more kids, that means a plethora of interesting psychological problems that comes from never having to care for anyone younger than you. We've spent millions of years evolving with the desire (need?) to have children and raise families. What happens to us when we take that away?
I'd hardly consider that "perfect". But I wouldn't consider the idea of death "perfect" either.
It gets more nuanced than that - an extreme Libertarian might view a "perfect" society as one without a government, while an extreme Communist might view a "perfect" society as one with only one government. These are fundamentally incapatible viewpoints. By whose definition of "perfect" is this future world?
The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide
and
... if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
An authoritarian, mind-control system of education is far from "perfect" in my mind.
That said, yes, it is possible to brainwash people into not understanding sarcasm or satire. It is possible to force people to believe all sorts of horrible things through violent, oppressive use of force and mind-control programs.
answered 44 mins ago
cegfaultcegfault
39815
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
No.
Your "perfect society" is far from one.
The teacher makes a factually untrue statement about the people of the old world. The government essentially tries to brainwash people to believe there is nothing to criticize. This is an authoritarian system that is fundamentally delusional about itself and detached from reality. A society acting like this would almost certainly be highly inefficient and corrupt. And people would deal with it with sarcasm and satire.
Also, sarcasm and satire are not actually forms of criticism. They are ways to deal with issues that for one reason or another cannot be criticized. A "perfect society" that genuinely had very little real issues would be positively full a satire and sarcasm. I mean, after they installed that weather control system we can't even complain about the weather. And what are we supposed to make fun of if all the politicians are honest and competent? This is the worst government EVER! (Except for all the governments that came before it.)
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No.
Your "perfect society" is far from one.
The teacher makes a factually untrue statement about the people of the old world. The government essentially tries to brainwash people to believe there is nothing to criticize. This is an authoritarian system that is fundamentally delusional about itself and detached from reality. A society acting like this would almost certainly be highly inefficient and corrupt. And people would deal with it with sarcasm and satire.
Also, sarcasm and satire are not actually forms of criticism. They are ways to deal with issues that for one reason or another cannot be criticized. A "perfect society" that genuinely had very little real issues would be positively full a satire and sarcasm. I mean, after they installed that weather control system we can't even complain about the weather. And what are we supposed to make fun of if all the politicians are honest and competent? This is the worst government EVER! (Except for all the governments that came before it.)
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No.
Your "perfect society" is far from one.
The teacher makes a factually untrue statement about the people of the old world. The government essentially tries to brainwash people to believe there is nothing to criticize. This is an authoritarian system that is fundamentally delusional about itself and detached from reality. A society acting like this would almost certainly be highly inefficient and corrupt. And people would deal with it with sarcasm and satire.
Also, sarcasm and satire are not actually forms of criticism. They are ways to deal with issues that for one reason or another cannot be criticized. A "perfect society" that genuinely had very little real issues would be positively full a satire and sarcasm. I mean, after they installed that weather control system we can't even complain about the weather. And what are we supposed to make fun of if all the politicians are honest and competent? This is the worst government EVER! (Except for all the governments that came before it.)
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
$endgroup$
No.
Your "perfect society" is far from one.
The teacher makes a factually untrue statement about the people of the old world. The government essentially tries to brainwash people to believe there is nothing to criticize. This is an authoritarian system that is fundamentally delusional about itself and detached from reality. A society acting like this would almost certainly be highly inefficient and corrupt. And people would deal with it with sarcasm and satire.
Also, sarcasm and satire are not actually forms of criticism. They are ways to deal with issues that for one reason or another cannot be criticized. A "perfect society" that genuinely had very little real issues would be positively full a satire and sarcasm. I mean, after they installed that weather control system we can't even complain about the weather. And what are we supposed to make fun of if all the politicians are honest and competent? This is the worst government EVER! (Except for all the governments that came before it.)
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
answered 2 hours ago
Ville NiemiVille Niemi
33.4k260115
33.4k260115
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
'The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of
the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide'
And exactly how does the teacher do this without being sarcastic of the people from the 'old world'?
It seems that the power brokers of this world maintain their grip over society by actually USING sarcasm and satire against the 'opposition' (old world).
The issue I have is in the use of the word 'teacher'. Is this person a 'teacher' as in 'guiding the development of intelligence' or an 'indoctrinator' as in 'instilling an ideology'?
If the students are not completely brainwashed and intellectually numbed, and the teacher is indeed attempting to promote intellectual discourse instead of wrote learning, I am sure that with enough exposure and experience they would eventually understand that indeed the lesson was entirely sarcastic.
If the students are completely brainwashed, as in the 'Fahrenheit 451' meme, this society would be stagnant and terminally so, and the question would be moot. Hopefully, there will be no blue koolaid.
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
'The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of
the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide'
And exactly how does the teacher do this without being sarcastic of the people from the 'old world'?
It seems that the power brokers of this world maintain their grip over society by actually USING sarcasm and satire against the 'opposition' (old world).
The issue I have is in the use of the word 'teacher'. Is this person a 'teacher' as in 'guiding the development of intelligence' or an 'indoctrinator' as in 'instilling an ideology'?
If the students are not completely brainwashed and intellectually numbed, and the teacher is indeed attempting to promote intellectual discourse instead of wrote learning, I am sure that with enough exposure and experience they would eventually understand that indeed the lesson was entirely sarcastic.
If the students are completely brainwashed, as in the 'Fahrenheit 451' meme, this society would be stagnant and terminally so, and the question would be moot. Hopefully, there will be no blue koolaid.
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
'The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of
the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide'
And exactly how does the teacher do this without being sarcastic of the people from the 'old world'?
It seems that the power brokers of this world maintain their grip over society by actually USING sarcasm and satire against the 'opposition' (old world).
The issue I have is in the use of the word 'teacher'. Is this person a 'teacher' as in 'guiding the development of intelligence' or an 'indoctrinator' as in 'instilling an ideology'?
If the students are not completely brainwashed and intellectually numbed, and the teacher is indeed attempting to promote intellectual discourse instead of wrote learning, I am sure that with enough exposure and experience they would eventually understand that indeed the lesson was entirely sarcastic.
If the students are completely brainwashed, as in the 'Fahrenheit 451' meme, this society would be stagnant and terminally so, and the question would be moot. Hopefully, there will be no blue koolaid.
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
$endgroup$
'The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of
the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide'
And exactly how does the teacher do this without being sarcastic of the people from the 'old world'?
It seems that the power brokers of this world maintain their grip over society by actually USING sarcasm and satire against the 'opposition' (old world).
The issue I have is in the use of the word 'teacher'. Is this person a 'teacher' as in 'guiding the development of intelligence' or an 'indoctrinator' as in 'instilling an ideology'?
If the students are not completely brainwashed and intellectually numbed, and the teacher is indeed attempting to promote intellectual discourse instead of wrote learning, I am sure that with enough exposure and experience they would eventually understand that indeed the lesson was entirely sarcastic.
If the students are completely brainwashed, as in the 'Fahrenheit 451' meme, this society would be stagnant and terminally so, and the question would be moot. Hopefully, there will be no blue koolaid.
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
answered 14 mins ago
Justin ThymeJustin Thyme
8,52711042
8,52711042
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There is no such thing as a "Perfect" society. When one aspect of the society becomes "perfect" (by whose standard?), it requires other aspects to become imperfect.
For example, if there is no more death, suffering of health or mental diseases, etc, then (a) goodby healthcare profession, insurance, and politics - which destroys the hopes and dreams of many - and (b) no more death = shit ton of people alive across time. Do you implement population control? That's forced oppression against people's desires to have children. Even if everyone "just chose" not to have any more kids, that means a plethora of interesting psychological problems that comes from never having to care for anyone younger than you. We've spent millions of years evolving with the desire (need?) to have children and raise families. What happens to us when we take that away?
I'd hardly consider that "perfect". But I wouldn't consider the idea of death "perfect" either.
It gets more nuanced than that - an extreme Libertarian might view a "perfect" society as one without a government, while an extreme Communist might view a "perfect" society as one with only one government. These are fundamentally incapatible viewpoints. By whose definition of "perfect" is this future world?
The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide
and
... if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
An authoritarian, mind-control system of education is far from "perfect" in my mind.
That said, yes, it is possible to brainwash people into not understanding sarcasm or satire. It is possible to force people to believe all sorts of horrible things through violent, oppressive use of force and mind-control programs.
answered 44 mins ago
cegfaultcegfault
39815
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There is no such thing as a "Perfect" society. When one aspect of the society becomes "perfect" (by whose standard?), it requires other aspects to become imperfect.
For example, if there is no more death, suffering of health or mental diseases, etc, then (a) goodby healthcare profession, insurance, and politics - which destroys the hopes and dreams of many - and (b) no more death = shit ton of people alive across time. Do you implement population control? That's forced oppression against people's desires to have children. Even if everyone "just chose" not to have any more kids, that means a plethora of interesting psychological problems that comes from never having to care for anyone younger than you. We've spent millions of years evolving with the desire (need?) to have children and raise families. What happens to us when we take that away?
I'd hardly consider that "perfect". But I wouldn't consider the idea of death "perfect" either.
It gets more nuanced than that - an extreme Libertarian might view a "perfect" society as one without a government, while an extreme Communist might view a "perfect" society as one with only one government. These are fundamentally incapatible viewpoints. By whose definition of "perfect" is this future world?
The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide
and
... if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
An authoritarian, mind-control system of education is far from "perfect" in my mind.
That said, yes, it is possible to brainwash people into not understanding sarcasm or satire. It is possible to force people to believe all sorts of horrible things through violent, oppressive use of force and mind-control programs.
answered 44 mins ago
cegfaultcegfault
39815
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There is no such thing as a "Perfect" society. When one aspect of the society becomes "perfect" (by whose standard?), it requires other aspects to become imperfect.
For example, if there is no more death, suffering of health or mental diseases, etc, then (a) goodby healthcare profession, insurance, and politics - which destroys the hopes and dreams of many - and (b) no more death = shit ton of people alive across time. Do you implement population control? That's forced oppression against people's desires to have children. Even if everyone "just chose" not to have any more kids, that means a plethora of interesting psychological problems that comes from never having to care for anyone younger than you. We've spent millions of years evolving with the desire (need?) to have children and raise families. What happens to us when we take that away?
I'd hardly consider that "perfect". But I wouldn't consider the idea of death "perfect" either.
It gets more nuanced than that - an extreme Libertarian might view a "perfect" society as one without a government, while an extreme Communist might view a "perfect" society as one with only one government. These are fundamentally incapatible viewpoints. By whose definition of "perfect" is this future world?
The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide
and
... if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
An authoritarian, mind-control system of education is far from "perfect" in my mind.
That said, yes, it is possible to brainwash people into not understanding sarcasm or satire. It is possible to force people to believe all sorts of horrible things through violent, oppressive use of force and mind-control programs.
answered 44 mins ago
cegfaultcegfault
39815
$endgroup$
There is no such thing as a "Perfect" society. When one aspect of the society becomes "perfect" (by whose standard?), it requires other aspects to become imperfect.
For example, if there is no more death, suffering of health or mental diseases, etc, then (a) goodby healthcare profession, insurance, and politics - which destroys the hopes and dreams of many - and (b) no more death = shit ton of people alive across time. Do you implement population control? That's forced oppression against people's desires to have children. Even if everyone "just chose" not to have any more kids, that means a plethora of interesting psychological problems that comes from never having to care for anyone younger than you. We've spent millions of years evolving with the desire (need?) to have children and raise families. What happens to us when we take that away?
I'd hardly consider that "perfect". But I wouldn't consider the idea of death "perfect" either.
It gets more nuanced than that - an extreme Libertarian might view a "perfect" society as one without a government, while an extreme Communist might view a "perfect" society as one with only one government. These are fundamentally incapatible viewpoints. By whose definition of "perfect" is this future world?
The teacher uses these works to tell the students that the people of the "old world" all were monsters who endorsed genocide
and
... if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?
An authoritarian, mind-control system of education is far from "perfect" in my mind.
That said, yes, it is possible to brainwash people into not understanding sarcasm or satire. It is possible to force people to believe all sorts of horrible things through violent, oppressive use of force and mind-control programs.
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$begingroup$
" Could this fundamental lack of understanding of sarcasm and satire come about if it was drilled into people's heads that there was absolutely nothing to criticize?": It all depends on whether there actually is something to criticize or not. Old joke from the days of Communist power: a guy hails a taxi and tells the driver to take him to Principle. The driver says that he doesn't know where that is; the guy replies that it must be some well-known place, because the Party leadership always says that "in Principle we have solved all our problems".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Satire and sarcasm are definitely NOT the same thing. One is a subtle suggestion that things need to be improved, the other is a deliberate attempt to put down the other person. Satire is an approach for positive change, sarcasm is an approach to conflict and negativity.
$endgroup$
– Justin Thyme
30 mins ago