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-   -   Humour & Irony (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/humour-irony-718225/)

Oink May 24th 2011 4:53 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
A lot of British comedy seems to be playing with roles and signs to point out the absurdity of life. Like Harry Enfield's posh builders or the Python sketch where Sartre's working class British wife writes all his work because he's too depressed. Although I do think some comics in the UK are just turning nasty these days for shock value, and as my nan would say, 'If you haven't got anything nice to say, then **** off.'

ducktastic May 24th 2011 5:55 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
The back bone of my corporate style is sarcasm and flippancy so I was a tad concerned when I got a job here, but not to worry everyone 'got' me!

I found the thing I/they struggled with most was my very British expressions, such as:

Bobs your uncle
We had a right old ding dong
You made a right old dogs dinner out of that
Donkeys years
Up the duff
When something didn't quite go my way, and I said 'do me a favour' (in an Eastenders styley)
Faff about
Zonked
Ta (signing emails ta very muchly was always fun)
Sods law
Rat arsed
Pear shaped
Saying something is 'pants' as in rubbish
Chuffed to bits
Dodgy

:)

el_richo May 24th 2011 6:02 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
Canadian's just don't understand toilet humour. I put cellophane foil over my wife's grans toilet the other day and you could have heard a pin drop once she stopped screaming........ :thumbdown:

Alan2005 May 24th 2011 6:04 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 9384940)
Although I do think some comics in the UK are just turning nasty these days for shock value, and as my nan would say, 'If you haven't got anything nice to say, then **** off.'

Yeah, those people can all go yiff in hell.

immichaelcaine May 24th 2011 6:22 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
Reply
English
In
This
Is
.

http://img1.jurko.net/avatar_3629.gif

iaink May 24th 2011 6:38 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
Clearly Mr Caine cant take numerous hints and requests to post in plain English.

If he continues to post giberish when his ten days are up then it will be a permanent ban next time.

Gremmie May 24th 2011 9:46 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
I run a small trucking company, and do loads for 1 of the big supermarket chaines, cant say which but the President does his own commercials.
Well last Thursday we picked up a load in Calgary destined for Winnipeg a rush load by all accounts, what is refered to as an Inter DC transfer. After loading my contact in Calgary who is in charge of organising the delivery appointments informed me she was unable to get a delivery time for Friday and that i should call again on Friday to get a time ??
Friday morning I made said call only to be informed we can unload this rush shipment on May 25 1pm:confused::blink:
So I sent an email to all departments informing them of the unload termine and adding my sarcastic comment " I,think the products sell by date will expire before we get unloaded":rofl: this set off a flury of worried and disturbed inter departmental emails causing finger pointing between managers and supervisors for about 45mins. Not 1 of them got it:o:o even after i sent a 2nd email:rofl:

Atlantic Xpat May 24th 2011 9:47 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 9384846)
Most British humour is based around laughing at people and their foibles. That is not very Canadian.

Use sarcasm sparingly. It is OK if people know you but otherwise some people will think you are just being rude.

All joking aside that is sound advice. It's actually sound advice for using humour with those you work with and especially those that work for you. Your friends may appreciate your dry wit, your team members will likely think you are a sarcastic prick. Been there. Done that.

Oink May 24th 2011 9:54 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 

Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat (Post 9385594)
All joking aside that is sound advice. It's actually sound advice for using humour with those you work with and especially those that work for you. Your friends may appreciate your dry wit, your team members will likely think you are a sarcastic prick. Been there. Done that.

I'd like to second that as it's also true with insecure undergraduates. One might like to think one is being righteously funny and making clever references to The Mary Whitehouse Experience sketches but there's a point when crying students leaving gets you down a bit.

ExKiwilass May 24th 2011 10:09 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 9384846)
Most British humour is based around laughing at people and their foibles. That is not very Canadian.

Use sarcasm sparingly. It is OK if people know you but otherwise some people will think you are just being rude.

very true.

Atlantic Xpat May 24th 2011 10:23 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 9385608)
I'd like to second that as it's also true with insecure undergraduates. One might like to think one is being righteously funny and making clever references to The Mary Whitehouse Experience sketches but there's a point when crying students leaving gets you down a bit.

You are Sarcastic Ray AICMFP.

edmontonian May 24th 2011 11:16 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
I got to admit at first british humor went totally over my head, but after being with my wife, who I have to say is very quick witted and has a dry sense of humor, i now can occasionally come out with it myself, practising on my brother as we speak. :rofl:

Tangram May 24th 2011 11:18 am

Re: Humour & Irony
 
I suggest watching "In The Loop".... apropos nothing in particular.

The4BellsLondon May 24th 2011 5:09 pm

Re: Humour & Irony
 
You cant bum a fag here without people getting upset!

They dont get "lairy" they think you are talking about Larry ! And if I say something is pants they think i mean trousers, not that its crap!
Larruped didnt translate well either!

Dorothy May 24th 2011 6:37 pm

Re: Humour & Irony
 

Originally Posted by ducktastic (Post 9385075)
I found the thing I/they struggled with most was my very British expressions, such as:

Bobs your uncle We Canadians surprisingly do know and use this one. At least I have for the last 48 years
We had a right old ding dong
You made a right old dogs dinner out of that See above
Donkeys years Again, see aboove
Up the duff Starting to get a bit repetitive, but see above
When something didn't quite go my way, and I said 'do me a favour' (in an Eastenders styley)
Faff about
Zonked Um, more repetition
Ta (signing emails ta very muchly was always fun) Yeah, we've heard this one before
Sods law This too
Rat arsed
Pear shaped
Saying something is 'pants' as in rubbish
Chuffed to bits
Dodgy Nothing unique with this either

:)

It may surprise some, but a lot of Canadians are actually of British descent! We speak English, watch British TV and movies and some of us have actually been to the UK :eek:


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