Thursday, December 30, 2010

Not suitable for F@cebook

There should be a name for the art of conveying contempt in a manner subtle enough to maintain plausible deniability.

17 comments:

Mrs. Chili said...

I have no idea how to do this.

jaded said...

I guess I assumed that was the purpose of passive aggressiveness.

luckyzmom said...

Nailing jello to the wall?

Steph said...

Is that "diplomacy"?
:)

Anonymous said...

I'd really like to see some examples.

How about "trompe l'ouïe"? Deceives the ear instead of deceives the eye?

meno said...

Mrs. Chili, you are fortunate. I am skilled in this revolting art.

jaded, same thing, i think. Although just as hard to immediately detect.

luckyzmom, yes, that. Exactly.

steph, well, only if diplomacy is designed to humiliate.

de, examples are in the tone of voice. The difference between "yes" and "yesssss?" Your word is perfect. The ear hears it, but the mind wonders.

nick said...

Me being fairly oblivious to other people's contempt (I just read it as grumpy or preoccupied or got out the wrong side of bed), I don't often notice such subtleties. Trompe l'ouïe sounds right. I've probably experienced it lots of times without realising.

Cagey (Kelli Oliver George) said...

When you hone this much desired, much sought after skill, I will expect a tutorial. Please.

Magpie said...

Hmm. What's going on?

Marshamlow said...

I can never get away with it. The people in my life are too damn smart. Miss you. Hope all is well. Happy New Year.

luckyzmom said...

Happy New Year!

Clowncar said...

it's called subtlety.

happy new year!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

The problem is that contempt is never subtle. As for what is unsuitable for Facebook, that would probably be anything reasoned, deep and articulate. Facebook is the fast food of communication.

Dick said...

Huh? Is this a Facebook thing? I don't do or know Facebook or Myspace.

sari said...

While FB is chock full of inanity, I will admit to liking it. It's like the difference between having your own store and sitting there alone all day (my blog), or going to the local grocery store, walking around, and saying hi to people. You say hi, you move on, but you get that bit of communication.

PS Happy new year!

Mrs4444 said...

You're such a deep thinker. I'm too tired to come up with anything profound here. Just thinking about you and hoping you're doing well....

Taradharma said...

sounds like the definition of Dick Cheney.