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Why Some People Don’t Get Satire: A Neologist Diagnosis


The Washington Post’s 2005 Neologism contest results are old news, 3 years old, to be precise. But since I just had them forwarded to me by a friend, they are news to me. And thanks to the neologists, I have been able to diagnose a timeless problem I have confronted as a satirical comic and blogger. (I know, get over myself, it’s you, Katie, not your audience, or a “problem,” who needs a diagnosis etc., but whatever. And NO I’m not comparing myself to Steven Colbert or Lenny Bruce, they’re just amazing satirists. So shut up!) The word is

Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.

I feel so validated, knowing there is a name to describe the sarcasm I have experienced. This neologism is so dead-on, I’ve invented my own: neologosis: a (n) diagnosis made by a neologism. Below are instances of sarcasm, when my satire was misunderstood. Here’s what the sarcastic critics are saying:

a passing blogger responding to my Russ Feingold: one crazy Jew! blog post

It’s times like these that I’m tempted to lose faith in humanity completely. and by the way, it’s spelled “meshugga”. way to be well-informed.

Anonymous, responding to my 3 Open letters in support of H.R. 4437 in which defended anti-amnesty legislation because immigration really IS a national security question, as we learned from “the horrible events of 3/6/1836… never forget… The Alamo… We live in a post-3/6/1836 world” said

“n*&^$#^% should stop being so f@#%! lazy and they should stop complaining and blaming immigrants for being so f@#%! broke!!!!!!!!