Brad Wardell's views about technology, politics, religion, world affairs, and all sorts of politically incorrect topics.
Published on February 18, 2013 By Draginol In Personal Computing

I sometimes wonder how many misunderstandings occur online due to people who don’t speak English as their native language interpreting dry humor as literal statements. 

I recently saw on a forum a discussion that quoted banter back and forth between myself and our PR rep. It goes something like this:

PR Rep: Got a 4.5 out of 5 on Game X!

Me: Oh no! That’ll wreck the Metacritic score – we want it to end up at 79. High enough for sales but low enough so we don’t have to give bonuses!

PR Rep: Stop! What is wrong with you?

Me: Same thing as when I had that case of Tourette's Syndrome

The dry humor part is the infamous rumor/fact that studios won’t get bonuses if the metacritic score is less than 80. But on the forum I saw, they were taking these statements literally. But the people doing so didn’t speak English as their first language.

Obviously, it’s possible they’re just…you know…dumb. But I wonder how much is lost in translation.


Comments (Page 2)
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on Feb 19, 2013

I had heard about that bee thing on a gaming forum before, but never seen the video. Quite a different thing when not explained by someone trying to rile shit up.

on Feb 19, 2013

Theres a penguin on the telly.

on Feb 19, 2013

I know a dead parrot when I see one and I'm looking at one right now.

on Feb 19, 2013

tazgecko
I know a dead parrot when I see one and I'm looking at one right now.

So that's where Polly got to.  Would you be so kind as to return her... we think we'd like to stuff her.

on Feb 19, 2013

Are you sure?  You have to cook a stuffed parrot longer.

on Feb 19, 2013

Jythier
Are you sure? You have to cook a stuffed parrot longer.

No.... as in taxidermy stuff.  We wanna preserve Polly ... um, like she was never gone, bless her soul.

on Feb 19, 2013

Wizard1956

And there's various forums where they talk about how horrible this was. And then there was that Porsche parking incident.....

Oh that's a good one too.  

So one day *after* work hours I drove in and parked my car across two handicap spots to run up and take a picture. However, we had a guest in the building show snapped off a picture and uploaded it and when someone complained to us, the sales person who answered the email didn't know about it and just responded "Brad's the CEO, he parks wherever he wants." 

So what started out as something we (internally) thought was a funny self deprecating picture turned into "That bastard shows his disdain for the handicap!"  

Of course, the reality is that since I own the building, I picked where the handicap spots are. I have a parking spot already that I park in every day that's close to the building and my bee hives. 

The point being, WE thought it was funny. 

 

on Feb 19, 2013

Frogboy
"That bastard shows his disdain for the handicap!

Yeah, and when are you going to put in the handicapped toilets?

The handicapped kitchenette?

The handicapped bedroom in case one needs to lay down?

The handicapped lounge, equipped with all manner of entertainment and conveniences?

And the handicapped taxi service just in case they need to go out for popcorn and other nibblies?

What? You're not going to install these things?

See!!! They were right!!!!

on Feb 19, 2013

Actually, our toilets are handicap accessible. We even had ramps built to get people into the building and we have a "quiet" room or people to lay down. And a nutritionist, And a personal fitness trainer.

The point about humor is that context is everything.  You take away context and suddenly you end up with someone just saying "Hey, your nipples look better on TV than mine!" and people being Aghast!

 

on Feb 19, 2013

Frogboy
Actually, our toilets are handicap accessible. We even had ramps built to get people into the building and we have a "quiet" room or people to lay down. And a nutritionist, And a personal fitness trainer.

So the TV/entertainment lounge is out of the question, then?

Being that I have mobility issues that can present me with difficulties when I'm out, I do appreciate businesses who think to install ramps and easy access points for people with disabilities.  I'm not in a wheelchair as yet [and hope never to be] but often I find ramp access preferable to navigate than step/stairs.

on Feb 19, 2013

starkers
So the TV/entertainment lounge is out of the question, then?

Yep, but you oughta see the gameroom.

on Feb 19, 2013

Frogboy
you end up with someone just saying "Hey, your nipples look better on TV than mine!"

Can't say I've seen your nipples....

[the assumption is you have them....pretty sure Frogs don't]...

on Feb 19, 2013

Can't say I've seen your nipples...

I'm guessing that Brad is somewhat pleased about that... and intends to keep it that way.

on Feb 20, 2013

Only time I've been exposed to english humor is when I worked in a warehouse and this black guy took something I had in my hands and I just looked at him like: "......?"     Then he explained that english (or british, can't remember) humor works in that you take something from someone (can't remember the rest) and then that is funny.

I never got it though 

 

Totally correct about people on the internet looking for things to be offended about.

on Feb 20, 2013

British humour...from THE Master...

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