4 ms·

I've been a fan of Scalzi's twitter and blog for a while and this is one of my personal favourites. It's kind of the general case of Poe's Law. I now ask myse

I've been a fan of Scalzi's twitter and blog for a while and this is one of my personal favourites. It's kind of the general case of Poe's Law. I now ask myself (usually) "Does correctly interpreting my comment/joke require the reader/listener to know that I am clever, droll, sarcastic and definitely not-a-nazi?"

MOARDONGZPLZ 4y ago
Same, my humor is very dry. Everyone seems to laugh, but given it’s very deadpan I’ve made the mistake of being “humorous” around new people who don’t know me. Shockingly I later find their first impression was that I’m a complete ass. C’est la vie.
- Ensorceled 4y ago
  In university I was introduced to a group of people by a common friend. After ward she told me they all argued about me; half the group thought I was the funniest guy and the other half a complete ass.
  - chrisweekly 4y ago
    Those aren't always mutually exclusive
  - smartscience 4y ago
    "To Avoid Criticism, Say Nothing, Do Nothing, Be Nothing"... https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/01/09/say-nothing/ https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/01/09/say-nothing/
    - Ensorceled 4y ago
      Nah, I just try to avoid being TOO clever until people get to know me. Then they know to look for the joke.
Swizec 4y ago
> "Does correctly interpreting my comment/joke require the reader/listener to know that I am clever, droll, sarcastic and definitely not-a-nazi?" This gets even more fun cross culturally. I used to practice emoting in the mirror when first moving to America because people couldn’t read me and would often joke/complain that I come off like a robot. Even now it still takes some conscious effort to over-do my emotions. Especially around surprises and such. Back home they now say I “grin like an american”.
- ido 4y ago
  Are you Russian?
  - Swizec 4y ago
    Slovenian. But yes it’s a common slavic trait
ourmandave 4y ago
If the failure mode of clever is "you're definitely-a-Nazi.", that's on them.
- Ensorceled 4y ago
  [flagged]
- mannykannot 4y ago
  Even if that is so, I suspect it is more likely to be a problem for you rather than them.
- ttpphd 4y ago
  Hmm interesting. Personally I'm willing to constructively critique the flaws of my communication style if other people are giving me feedback that I come across as an asshole or Nazi.

MOARDONGZPLZ 4y ago

Same, my humor is very dry. Everyone seems to laugh, but given it’s very deadpan I’ve made the mistake of being “humorous” around new people who don’t know me. Shockingly I later find their first impression was that I’m a complete ass. C’est la vie.

Ensorceled 4y ago
In university I was introduced to a group of people by a common friend. After ward she told me they all argued about me; half the group thought I was the funniest guy and the other half a complete ass.
- chrisweekly 4y ago
  Those aren't always mutually exclusive
- smartscience 4y ago
  "To Avoid Criticism, Say Nothing, Do Nothing, Be Nothing"... https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/01/09/say-nothing/ https://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/01/09/say-nothing/
  - Ensorceled 4y ago
    Nah, I just try to avoid being TOO clever until people get to know me. Then they know to look for the joke.

Swizec 4y ago

> "Does correctly interpreting my comment/joke require the reader/listener to know that I am clever, droll, sarcastic and definitely not-a-nazi?" This gets even more fun cross culturally. I used to practice emoting in the mirror when first moving to America because people couldn’t read me and would often joke/complain that I come off like a robot. Even now it still takes some conscious effort to over-do my emotions. Especially around surprises and such. Back home they now say I “grin like an american”.

ido 4y ago
Are you Russian?
- Swizec 4y ago
  Slovenian. But yes it’s a common slavic trait

ourmandave 4y ago

If the failure mode of clever is "you're definitely-a-Nazi.", that's on them.

Ensorceled 4y ago
[flagged]
mannykannot 4y ago
Even if that is so, I suspect it is more likely to be a problem for you rather than them.
ttpphd 4y ago
Hmm interesting. Personally I'm willing to constructively critique the flaws of my communication style if other people are giving me feedback that I come across as an asshole or Nazi.