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| Fuck, wrong Poo |
Poe's Law states: Without a clear indication of the author's intent, it is difficult or impossible to tell the difference between an expression of sincere extremism and a parody of extremism.
Cleary both views appear equally insane. Sincerely held extreme views, as judged by 'society's norms', can appear crazy to the average reasonable person- whoever that might be.
As an example consider a raging, rabid, homophobe whose rhetoric and hyperbole demands ridicule even from folk not enamoured with the homosexual life-style. It may occur to clever people and even their not so smart brethren, that this may be a cunning ploy by a 'cloaked liberal' to unearth the true variety of rabid, deranged homophobe. Indeed. However, sometimes a fruit is just a fruit.
The written word lends itself well to the tenets of Poe's Law. This is particularly so of internet exchanges. When being risible over a subject begging to be misconstrued, the occasional 'smiley' or 'wry' face adds context which only the dense and those afflicted with prosopagnosia would miss.
And of course, there is the problem that any sophistically advanced Troll can be indistinguishable from the common nutter; rare beast akimbo.
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I disagree, quoth the Raven, with the premise of this law - though the law, as in what it states, is fine. Being provided with 'a clear indication of the author's intent' ruins the potential satire and entertainment of the author's 'expression'. It is only at the point where the reader/listener asks, 'Wait a minute, maybe this guy is serious.' does one experience truly good satire/parody as the art form it is. The appending of a 'happy face' is altogether insulting to the bright and beautiful and specifically designed to include those lesser minds in the entertainment. Fucking egalitarianism is what that is!
ReplyDeleteI liked that Alan Parson Project CD many years back especially "The Tell Tale Heart" with Arthur Brown doing the vocals.
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