One of the most misused words in the entire English language.
There are several types of irony.
Socratic irony - When someone pretends to be naive about a certain subject, and uses his questions about it to point out a flaw in the established belief. This is often used on the TV show South Park, where the children often ask questions about a situation until the folly in a parent's decision becomes clear.
Sarcasm - Understatement, mocking overstatement, or heavy-handed irony (stating the flat opposite of the truth) where both parties are aware of the difference between what's said and what's actually happening.
Situational Irony - The irony that most people think of. A difference between what you expect to happen (in a story, for example) and what actually happens. Rain on your wedding day would be a sort-of example, because a wedding day is generally expected to be a perfect, happy day. The good advice you didn't take, however, would NOT be irony, because that has nothing to do with what is expected and what isn't expected. A traffic jam when you're already late wouldn't be irony either; there's no automatic expectation that traffic will be fine, just because you happen to be late.
Irony of Fate - The concept that the Gods, Fates, etc. are toying with humans for amusement by using irony. Beethoven's loss of hearing is a famous example; one would expect a composer to be able to hear his compositions, but fate denied him that ability.
Tragic (Dramatic) Irony - When the audience knows something that some of the characters don't know in a play/movie/novel/whatever. For example, when the horror flick psycho is in the house and the homeowner just goes in without suspecting anything.
There are several types of irony.
Socratic irony - When someone pretends to be naive about a certain subject, and uses his questions about it to point out a flaw in the established belief. This is often used on the TV show South Park, where the children often ask questions about a situation until the folly in a parent's decision becomes clear.
Sarcasm - Understatement, mocking overstatement, or heavy-handed irony (stating the flat opposite of the truth) where both parties are aware of the difference between what's said and what's actually happening.
Situational Irony - The irony that most people think of. A difference between what you expect to happen (in a story, for example) and what actually happens. Rain on your wedding day would be a sort-of example, because a wedding day is generally expected to be a perfect, happy day. The good advice you didn't take, however, would NOT be irony, because that has nothing to do with what is expected and what isn't expected. A traffic jam when you're already late wouldn't be irony either; there's no automatic expectation that traffic will be fine, just because you happen to be late.
Irony of Fate - The concept that the Gods, Fates, etc. are toying with humans for amusement by using irony. Beethoven's loss of hearing is a famous example; one would expect a composer to be able to hear his compositions, but fate denied him that ability.
Tragic (Dramatic) Irony - When the audience knows something that some of the characters don't know in a play/movie/novel/whatever. For example, when the horror flick psycho is in the house and the homeowner just goes in without suspecting anything.
So, yeah, Alanis was wrong in a lot of her song, but there ARE some examples of irony in there - and a few that are kinda-sorta, but could be better. The old man who buys a lottery ticket is one; it would be a better example if he won, and then died of a heart attack from the shock of winning.
by progamer124 December 16, 2004
Get the Ironymug. Combanation of nato and owned. Refers to the defeat of the Soviet Union's Iron Curtain by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (i.e. the cold war). Many gamers are also war buffs (military first-person shooters), and this combination of phrases was an inevitable result.
by progamer124 February 11, 2005
Get the NATOwnedmug. Neither liberal nor conservative. Contrary to popular belief, does NOT imply a political affiliation or lack thereof; someone with no political party is considered an Independent, but can still be very conservative or very liberal. A moderate is merely someone who isn't conservative enough to be on the right, and isn't liberal enough to be on the left. Another popular (and incorrect) belief is that moderates just can't make up their minds. That's as untrue as it gets; I am an independent moderate myself, and I have no trouble making up my mind. I'm just considered moderate because, for example, I am against both abortion AND capital punishment. The former is a conservative view, and the latter is a liberal view. Therefore I am moderate.
I'm moderate because I have beliefs that overlap liberalism and conservativism, NOT because I don't belong to a party, and NOT because I can't make up my mind! Go screw a tree you asses.
by progamer124 July 11, 2003
Get the moderatemug. Minor In Possession. Specific state laws dictating punishment for a minor found possessing alcohol, marijuana, or other controlled substances. Generally a light misdemeanor; in Michigan, for example, the maximum punishment for an MIP conviction is a $100 fine.
Note that the legal definition of "in possession" can at times include "under influence;" for example, the Michigan MIP law allows for a legally drunk minor to be charged with possession. This amendment was intended to close a loophole related to drinking in Canada; in previous cases, defendants had argued that drinking in Canada did not constitute possession in Michigan.
Note that the legal definition of "in possession" can at times include "under influence;" for example, the Michigan MIP law allows for a legally drunk minor to be charged with possession. This amendment was intended to close a loophole related to drinking in Canada; in previous cases, defendants had argued that drinking in Canada did not constitute possession in Michigan.
by progamer124 October 10, 2003
Get the mipmug. I'm doing absolutely nth all week.
by progamer124 December 19, 2004
Get the nthmug. Character played by Kevin Spacey in the 1995 movie, "The Usual Suspects." The character is most remembered for a story about him, told to a police officer in the movie:
"He's supposed to be Turkish. Some say his father was German. Nobody ever believed he was real. Nobody ever knew him or saw anybody that ever worked directly for him. But to hear Kobayashi tell it, anybody could have worked for Soze. You never knew; that was his power. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. One story the guys told me, the story I believe, was from his days in Turkey. There was a gang of Hungarians that wanted their own mob. They realized that to be in power, you didn't need guns or money or even numbers. You just needed the will to do what the other guy wouldn't. After a while, they come into power and then they come after Soze. He was small-time then, just running dope, they say. They come to his home in the afternoon, looking for his business. They find his wife and kids in the house and decide to wait for Soze. He comes home to find his wife raped and children screaming. The Hungarians knew Soze was tough, not to be trifled with, so they let him know they meant business. They tell him they want his territory, all his business. Soze looks over the faces of his family. Then he showed these men of will what will really was. He tells him he would rather see his family dead than live another day after this. He lets the last Hungarian go, waits until his wife and kids are in the ground, and then he goes after the rest of the mob. He kills their kids. He kills their wives. He kills their parents and their parents' friends. He burns down the houses they live in, the stores they work in. He kills people that owe them money. And like that, he's gone. Underground. Nobody's ever seen him since. He becomes a myth, a spook story that criminals tell their kids at night. 'Rat on your pop and Keyser Soze will get you.' But no one ever really believes."
Soze's character was based on real-life murderer John List, who murdered his mother, wife, and three children, then disappeared for 18 years. When he was found and captured, he had started a completely new life as Robert Peter Clark.
The term "Keyser Soze" has become synonymous with someone who is elusive and legendary - someone who everyone hears about, but noone ever meets in person.
"He's supposed to be Turkish. Some say his father was German. Nobody ever believed he was real. Nobody ever knew him or saw anybody that ever worked directly for him. But to hear Kobayashi tell it, anybody could have worked for Soze. You never knew; that was his power. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. One story the guys told me, the story I believe, was from his days in Turkey. There was a gang of Hungarians that wanted their own mob. They realized that to be in power, you didn't need guns or money or even numbers. You just needed the will to do what the other guy wouldn't. After a while, they come into power and then they come after Soze. He was small-time then, just running dope, they say. They come to his home in the afternoon, looking for his business. They find his wife and kids in the house and decide to wait for Soze. He comes home to find his wife raped and children screaming. The Hungarians knew Soze was tough, not to be trifled with, so they let him know they meant business. They tell him they want his territory, all his business. Soze looks over the faces of his family. Then he showed these men of will what will really was. He tells him he would rather see his family dead than live another day after this. He lets the last Hungarian go, waits until his wife and kids are in the ground, and then he goes after the rest of the mob. He kills their kids. He kills their wives. He kills their parents and their parents' friends. He burns down the houses they live in, the stores they work in. He kills people that owe them money. And like that, he's gone. Underground. Nobody's ever seen him since. He becomes a myth, a spook story that criminals tell their kids at night. 'Rat on your pop and Keyser Soze will get you.' But no one ever really believes."
Soze's character was based on real-life murderer John List, who murdered his mother, wife, and three children, then disappeared for 18 years. When he was found and captured, he had started a completely new life as Robert Peter Clark.
The term "Keyser Soze" has become synonymous with someone who is elusive and legendary - someone who everyone hears about, but noone ever meets in person.
by progamer124 January 04, 2005
Get the keyser sozemug. 1. Similar to a mid-life crisis, but in your 20's; average life expectancy is around 80, so a quarter of the way through is 20.
The term appeared in the song "Why Georgia" by John Mayer.
The term appeared in the song "Why Georgia" by John Mayer.
by progamer124 May 12, 2004
Get the quarter life crisismug.