[alexhaefner]

Maybe I misunderstood this because of what books I have been reading lately, but I really enjoyed reading this piece as a piece of irony. Apparently the word irony, pre-14th century had more to do with an author writing an opinion he or she did not hold, as if he or she did hold it.

When I read this as if the author doesn't believe that life is wasting his time, but is being ironic, because the inherent flaw resides within himself, and not within life, then I find the piece to be a really, really interesting and an exposing and humble read.

[daemonl]

You totally got it. Apparently not many others did, my bad. Thanks for your comment.

[alexhaefner]

Thanks again for writing this. You're writing about a feeling that I've experienced and can relate to, and I thought the piece was excellent. Great job.

[dpatrick86]

Blame it on a verbose minority not getting it... I think your opening title was a pretty strong hint of the direction you were taking it. Well done

[JohnLBevan]

Great article, but I couldn't help thinking my time could have been better spent elsewhere. ;)

[PlanetFunk]

I'm pretty sure that wasting time with your partner/children/family/friends IS the whole point of life :)

[blablabla123]

Excellent article... At first I wasn't sure whether it was serious or not. I guess many have gotten into the trap of complaining that they don't work like a robot in a robot factory. I have gotten more than once into it ;)

[RBerenguel]

Got it, too and found it quite close to some ideas I wasn't sure how to write.

[brador]

Would that be called sarcasm in the modern day?

[alexhaefner]

I don't think so. But this stuff is always in flux. I see irony as constructive - it intends to produce something. In the case of the author, writing from an ironic perspective was the best way to describe a feeling and emotion that would have been hard, if impossible, to capture otherwise.

Sarcasm is entirely destructive. It isn't comedy, and it isn't irony. I'm pigeonholing it into a very tight definition, but when sarcasm is used, it tends to be used as a way to put the person using it on a higher pedestal than whomever the sarcasm is directed at. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but think of times when someone acts in a sarcastic manner. It usually isn't funny, and it doesn't communicate a feeling, it's just meant to make a witty or kitschy point that is meant to bring the subject of the sarcasm down and elevate the person who is using sarcasm, his or her feeling of self worth.

[jimwhitson]

The OED defines sarcasm as 'a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter gibe or taunt'. Irony is often used in a sarcastic remark, but it's generally the cheap sort of irony - 'Well done, genius' in response to a stupid error - rather than the more literary sort, which when particularly well-developed we call satire.

[nollidge]

IMO sarcasm is a form of irony that's brief and especially cutting.

[innguest]

> Apparently the word irony, pre-14th century had more to do with an author writing an opinion he or she did not hold, as if he or she did hold it.

It still means that; people just misuse it when they actually mean "coincidence".