Oh, BTW - if I use heavy handed sarcasm, am I taking the piss? Or does the phrase only apply to a lighter touch?
This is so nice. Having everyone together for my birthday. Of course, you could smash in all my toes with a hammer and it will still be the bestest Buffy Birthday Bash in a big long while.
Buffy ,'Potential'
All Ogle, No Cash -- It's Not Just Annoying, It's Un-American
Discussion of episodes currently airing in Un-American locations (anything that's aired in Australia is fair game), as well as anything else the Un-Americans feel like talking about or we feel like asking them. Please use the show discussion threads for any current-season discussion.
Add yourself to the Buffista map while you're here by updating your profile.
Typo Boy - Feb 10, 2003 11:39:55 am PST #1849 of 9843
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
billytea - Feb 10, 2003 11:51:42 am PST #1850 of 9843
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
Oh, BTW - if I use heavy handed sarcasm, am I taking the piss? Or does the phrase only apply to a lighter touch?
A skilful touch is always a good thing. But heavy-handed can still be taking the piss. Context is important, as are intent and the nature of your relationship with the other person. (Obviously, the better the friendship, the greater the allowable piss-taking.)
You can probably date a lot of this (in Australia at least) to its convict origins. The virtues of a convict existence tend to be egalitarianism, mateship and a refusal to bow to authority. So in the Australian psyche there grew a strong sense of 'Jack's as good as his master'. This meant that should anyone be seen as giving themselves airs, a quick putdown, to level the playing field as it were, would not be far behind.
Sue - Feb 10, 2003 11:54:36 am PST #1851 of 9843
hip deep in pie
I forgot to mention that the other day I was reading an Archives text written by Austrailians and they mentioned how being descended from the convict set is now fashionable in some circles. They were discussing in in the context of records appraisal, and how one cannot always determine the future value of records to society.
Zoe Finch - Feb 10, 2003 12:09:10 pm PST #1852 of 9843
Gradh tu fhein
I think this greater tendency to take the piss in normal relationships accounts for a lot of this. Ridicule can obscure a person's basic humanity; British sitcoms (good ones, anyway) are better at sidestepping this, because there's more of a tradition of doing so good-naturedly. (Paradoxically, this allows them to be more savage too at times.) But when you have a US remake, this gets lost, and all you have is a show based on ridiculing some sad bastards. And they already have reality shows for that.
I think billytea is right. Speaking for myself ( and my only qualification here is being in the UK ) I find ridicule shows cringeworthy and love "it's funny cos it's true" humour. There are some great US comedies but the British do it best. IMO
Betsy HP - Feb 10, 2003 12:25:55 pm PST #1853 of 9843
If I only had a brain...
"it's funny cos it's true" humour
Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.
Mmmmm.
Typo Boy - Feb 10, 2003 1:28:16 pm PST #1854 of 9843
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
George Bernard Shaw:
"Tell the truth. It's the funniest joke in the world."
P.M. Marc - Feb 10, 2003 1:56:43 pm PST #1855 of 9843
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.
Also, Waiting For G-d. (Or, what I expect being old will be like.)
evil jimi - Feb 10, 2003 8:43:49 pm PST #1856 of 9843
Lurching from one disaster to the next.
On Coupling, for instance...
You'll be able to make a proper comparison in the very near future, since the pilot of the Amercian version of Coupling was shot last October according to IMDb.
billytea - Feb 10, 2003 8:45:56 pm PST #1857 of 9843
You were a wrong baby who grew up wrong. The wrong kind of wrong. It's better you hear it from a friend.
You'll be able to make a proper comparison in the very near future, since the pilot of the Amercian version of Coupling was shot last October according to IMDb.
One of the reasons why I chose it. (Another is that it's extremely funny, of course.) Is it showing in Australia?
evil jimi - Feb 10, 2003 8:52:47 pm PST #1858 of 9843
Lurching from one disaster to the next.
8 hours until new Buffy! *bounce bounce bounce*