From Span Hanna
Tiffany O’Callaghan’s article on the apparent inscrutability of irony and sarcasm in printed matter (14 June, p 46) strikes a very loud chord of recognition.
Anyone who has experienced inter-office memos would no doubt hear the very same chord. Where I see this phenomenon shown in truly stark relief, however, is in social media.
Many times I have seen comments misinterpreted and remarked on with vitriol, provoking further anger in response.
What these emails, status updates and memos have in common is their brevity. The statements stand alone with no context except that added by the reader.
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If literate, well-educated humans have trouble latching on to irony and sarcasm, what chance does computer software have?
Pakenham, Victoria, Australia
