"Straight", and My Saga with Sarcasm

[debka_notion]

I was talking to mom (azpuchaz), and she asked me if a comment I made was sarcastic. I said no, it was straight. I'm often surprised at how many meanings the word straight seems to have: literally straight, like a straight line, not-gay, not-sarcastic, in general anything that is sort of main-line (for lack of a better term). Would that suggest that things that are contrasted with the term straight are considered crooked/curved/bent? I rather wonder why straightness is viewed as normative. I guess because it is most simple, and as my difficulty with sarcasm would demonstrate, the other things come across as harder to understand.

But as far as the converastion went, we were talking about how maybe my tendency to say things taht are so straight and honest that they sound like they could almost be sarcastic is why I have a hard time recognizing and using sarcasm. SO maybe Captain Obvious also would have a hard time with sarcasm (that is, if Captain Obvious is someone besides me, which my beloved sibling would contest).

Comments

[danablanks.livejournal.com]

Wow. It is interesting how people use "straight" . I can completely relate to the sarcasm issue! I can't get sarcasm much either. But then again, I flake out on another things too :) I really appreciate complete directness because roundabout communication, sarcasm or insinuations drive me batty.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

I hate using insinuations, and yet I use them all the time when I get too shy or nervous to be blunt. I don't get it.