Neowin Forums > An example of irony at its strongest:

kylejn

Mar 15 2006, 04:01

QUOTE

Miss Deaf Texas struck by train, killed

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The reigning Miss Deaf Texas died after being struck by a train, officials said.

Tara Rose McAvoy, 18, was walking Monday near railroad tracks when she was struck by a Union Pacific train, authorities said.

A witness told Austin television station KTBC the train sounded its horn right up until the accident occurred.

McAvoy, who had been deaf since birth, won the state title in June and represented the state "with dignity and pride," state pageant director Laura Loeb-Hill told The Associated Press via e-mail Monday night.

McAvoy was to represent Texas at the Miss Deaf America pageant this summer, Loeb-Hill said.

McAvoy graduated last year from the Texas School for the Deaf, attended Austin Community College and then started at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., in January, but had returned to Texas, Loeb-Hill said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/14/beauty.qu...h.ap/index.html

Terrible that someone died, but I can't say that I didn't chuckle at the irony of it. I guess that's a form of schadenfreude, huh?

beardedwonder

Mar 15 2006, 04:04

QUOTE

I guess that's a form of schadenfreude, huh?

schadenfreude = Sour Grapes, definition: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sour+grapes&db=*

So no it's not sour grapes.

Evil Dragon

Mar 15 2006, 04:07

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=8&q=schadenfreude

Yes, it is schadenfreude.

Fedorpheux

Mar 15 2006, 04:08

That doesn't make sense...

Anybody who's been anywhere near enough to a train to get hurt by it knows that it rattles the earth under you quite a bit. Even if you're deaf, you should be able to notice that rather easily...

Just seems a bit weird to me.

Hum

Mar 15 2006, 04:11

Hearing or not -- it's just good sense to think about the possibility of a train coming along at any time. She must have known.

Buttus

Mar 15 2006, 04:15

walking near railroad tracks, i can kind of understand, but i sure would be looking around... and trains cause quite a rumble, i can't believe she didn't feel something coming...

planetik

Mar 15 2006, 04:19

QUOTE(beardedwonder @ Mar 14 2006, 23:04) [snapback]587309358[/snapback]

schadenfreude = Sour Grapes, definition: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sour+grapes&db=*

So no it's not sour grapes.

where the hell?

russ0943

Mar 15 2006, 04:22

i feel like a bad person. I laughed my ass off. Still a sad story though. If it was someone i knew it would be no laughing matter though.

illicit

Mar 15 2006, 04:24

Heh, I feel kind of bad, but I did chuckle when I read that.

disturb3d

Mar 15 2006, 04:33

I think Im missing something... how is this ironic?

Fedorpheux

Mar 15 2006, 04:36

QUOTE(disturb3d @ Mar 14 2006, 20:33) [snapback]587309451[/snapback]

I think Im missing something... how is this ironic?

She's deaf and she got killed by something that regular people usually hear (literally) a mile away, or more.

...get it?

clide

Mar 15 2006, 04:41

Maybe she was suicidal...
Like others have said a train would make the ground rumble, seems like she would be able to feel that.

MasterC

Mar 15 2006, 04:55

QUOTE(beardedwonder @ Mar 14 2006, 20:04) [snapback]587309358[/snapback]

schadenfreude = Sour Grapes, definition: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sour+grapes&db=*

So no it's not sour grapes.

According to Babelfish, it's "harming joy"

Anyways, I must admit- I laughed when I read that

Brandon Live

Mar 15 2006, 05:30

QUOTE(Fedorpheux @ Mar 14 2006, 20:36) [snapback]587309459[/snapback]

She's deaf and she got killed by something that regular people usually hear (literally) a mile away, or more.

...get it?

Umm, it's not ironic. Not even in the slightest. And it's not funny either.

It's tragic. End of story.

disturb3d

Mar 15 2006, 06:06

QUOTE(Brandon Live @ Mar 15 2006, 05:30) [snapback]587309606[/snapback]

Umm, it's not ironic. Not even in the slightest. And it's not funny either.

I know....wtf...

=NickJ=

Mar 15 2006, 06:17

QUOTE(Brandon Live @ Mar 15 2006, 05:30) [snapback]587309606[/snapback]

Umm, it's not ironic. Not even in the slightest. And it's not funny either.

It's tragic. End of story.

I agree, I really think people need to read up on the definition of irony, this certainly isn't it.

dior_addict

Mar 15 2006, 06:24

haha. I read it, and I said to myself "where's the irony in this?".

This isn't irony. It's just a sad event that occured.

leesmithg

Mar 15 2006, 06:26

QUOTE(Hum @ Mar 15 2006, 04:11) [snapback]587309378[/snapback]

Hearing or not -- it's just good sense to think about the possibility of a train coming along at any time. She must have known.

True even though she was mutton, she would had felt vibrations and also the force of the horn would
have made her felt danger even if she cannot hear.

Irony I think not.

Stupidity, walking by railway lines I think so.

Very sad indeed.

HawkMan

Mar 15 2006, 06:39

I think that damn "Isn't it Ironic" song has ruined too many peoples perception of Irony, with not even a single item in the song being ironic...

if you're going to use advanced works like irony, sarcasm, paradox... learn what they mean first.(that goes double when writing a song about it

)

trance

Mar 15 2006, 06:46

Y'all are missing the real point... was she hot?

Fedorpheux

Mar 15 2006, 06:53

Yeah, if you use the actual true definition of "irony" then this certainly isn't it.

If you want to get really technical, the closest this story could get would be "quirky coincidence."

But on the other hand, I don't really agree with the people who say this is sad and/or tragic. Unless you knew the girl, that is. But since I didn't know this person even remotely, I don't really care whether she died or how deaf she was. If it wasn't for reading this post, I never would have known that she existed so it isn't really sad or tragic to hear about her death.

Nashy

Mar 15 2006, 07:34

QUOTE(trance @ Mar 15 2006, 06:46) [snapback]587309702[/snapback]

Y'all are missing the real point... was she hot?

Thats the most disgusting and inconsiderate comment I have read in a very long time.

#47

Mar 15 2006, 08:02

QUOTE(Nashy @ Mar 15 2006, 17:34) [snapback]587309802[/snapback]

Thats the most disgusting and inconsiderate comment I have read in a very long time.

ohnoes! call the police! c'mon, lighten up, its not like you knew the girl. if you're really touched, im sure you can write a sympathy letter to her family and friends. anyway, here's a pic if you didnt follow the link..

IPB Image

trance

Mar 15 2006, 08:06

QUOTE(Nashy @ Mar 14 2006, 23:34) [snapback]587309802[/snapback]

Thats the most disgusting and inconsiderate comment I have read in a very long time.

You're right... I'm sorry. I felt like being inconsiderate, but I was wrong.

Quick Reply

Mar 15 2006, 08:08

Maybe it's ironic because deaf = death? I'm not sure but it's sad and at the same time silly to be walking on the train tracks without looking for trains.

Persephone

Mar 15 2006, 08:21

^ No...

Americans don't get irony...

forster

Mar 15 2006, 08:23

And all she ever wanted was world peace.

Lanky

Mar 15 2006, 08:26

That's really sad. She was pretty too (obviously)
And btw, it's not ironic at all.

AXiao

Mar 15 2006, 08:54

a sad day

MarkusDarkus

Mar 15 2006, 09:00

How can you not notice a train coming?
They weigh tonnes and they aren't small.
Not a very smart thing she did at all IMO.
It's a shame she lost her life because of carelessness

jimbo11883

Mar 15 2006, 09:01

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought...it figures

quigley0

Mar 15 2006, 09:42

Yeah, all of the things in that song dont equal Irony. Irony is the most misunderstood word in the english language.

Also, schadenfreude is generally used in a different way. Lets say the girl was your girlfriend, and she cheated on you. Then she gets hit by a train. And you are happy/delighted about it. That is more of what schadenfreude is.

Having a chuckle at this doesn't equal schadenfreude. You are not "delighted".

jimbo11883

Mar 15 2006, 09:46

In high school, I never picked up the concept of true irony... the internet gave me a better idea of what is irony!

njlouch

Mar 15 2006, 09:47

Um, ok...

1) Alanis knows jack about Irony it seems
2) This story contains jack Irony too

Please learn the meaning of this word, and not just assume it means "something vaguely funny and unexpected".

Scudworth

Mar 15 2006, 10:01

QUOTE(HawkMan @ Mar 15 2006, 01:39) [snapback]587309689[/snapback]

I think that damn "Isn't it Ironic" song has ruined too many peoples perception of Irony, with not even a single item in the song being ironic...

if you're going to use advanced works like irony, sarcasm, paradox... learn what they mean first.(that goes double when writing a song about it

)

QUOTE

Some situations Morissette describes in the song are arguably examples of cosmic irony, events that, as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it, appear "as if in mockery of the fitness or rightness of things,"

wikipedia

They should entirely drop irony from the curriculum at a highschool level. I personally find the variance in what irony can be to be rather stupid.

QUOTE(Nashy @ Mar 15 2006, 02:34) [snapback]587309802[/snapback]

Thats the most disgusting and inconsiderate comment I have read in a very long time.

Actually, I found it amusing.

LuAnnPurple

Mar 15 2006, 21:50

QUOTE(clide @ Mar 14 2006, 22:41) [snapback]587309478[/snapback]

Maybe she was suicidal...
Like others have said a train would make the ground rumble, seems like she would be able to feel that.

Suicidal, NO WAY!! She is not that kind. She have so much dream to move on! Unfortunately, Any noise are the same feelings. We the deaf sometime couldn't feel or tell which noise that is.

QUOTE(leesmithg @ Mar 15 2006, 00:26) [snapback]587309668[/snapback]

True even though she was mutton, she would had felt vibrations and also the force of the horn would
have made her felt danger even if she cannot hear.

Irony I think not.

Stupidity, walking by railway lines I think so.

Very sad indeed.

Sighing.... Hearing people, why can't you all understand? We the deaf people have to educate hearing people in our lifetime what deaf is like. For your information, All the deaf people have different hearing problem like I cannot hear HIGH PITCH such as fire alarm at all. The force of the horn would hurt hearing people but not to deaf people at all, that depend on how deaf they are. Do you get picture? Feel vibrations, sometime we couldn't tell what it is from. You the Hearing people are very lucky and blessed learned what the sound come from when you were very toddler. GET IT?? Don't ever think this special lady is stuidity. She didn't intent to get close. Things can happened all over close or far...... I would appreciate your understanding and RESPECT this lady and her family who lose loved one. Thank you!

lylesback2

Mar 15 2006, 21:51

always look both ways while crossing the street.. why a deaf person didn't while crossing a railway.. that is still undetermined.

LuAnnPurple

Mar 15 2006, 21:58

QUOTE(trance @ Mar 15 2006, 00:46) [snapback]587309702[/snapback]

Y'all are missing the real point... was she hot?

You also miss this point.

QUOTE(Fedorpheux @ Mar 15 2006, 00:53) [snapback]587309718[/snapback]

Yeah, if you use the actual true definition of "irony" then this certainly isn't it.

If you want to get really technical, the closest this story could get would be "quirky coincidence."

But on the other hand, I don't really agree with the people who say this is sad and/or tragic. Unless you knew the girl, that is. But since I didn't know this person even remotely, I don't really care whether she died or how deaf she was. If it wasn't for reading this post, I never would have known that she existed so it isn't really sad or tragic to hear about her death.

Yes, you got that correct. I do know this special lady. This is not necessary for others to be scarcam about her.

QUOTE(Nashy @ Mar 15 2006, 01:34) [snapback]587309802[/snapback]

Thats the most disgusting and inconsiderate comment I have read in a very long time.

Thank you very much! I really appreciate it.

Chaoserver

Mar 15 2006, 21:59

This isn't ironic at all. Ironic would be a really good hearer being run over by a train. Not a deaf person. And I think the insensitive comments should be pruned.

LuAnnPurple

Mar 15 2006, 22:14

QUOTE(Nashy @ Mar 15 2006, 01:34) [snapback]587309802[/snapback]

Thats the most disgusting and inconsiderate comment I have read in a very long time.

Thank you very much! I really appreciate it.

QUOTE(trance @ Mar 15 2006, 02:06) [snapback]587309848[/snapback]

You're right... I'm sorry. I felt like being inconsiderate, but I was wrong.

That is alright for you to express your feelings. NO, You are not wrong.
I also don't appreciate this person mentioned "Was she hot?" She was very beautiful special lady, I have know her since she was in elementary school.

QUOTE(Quick Reply @ Mar 15 2006, 02:08) [snapback]587309852[/snapback]

Maybe it's ironic because deaf = death? I'm not sure but it's sad and at the same time silly to be walking on the train tracks without looking for trains.

Don't do that, please. Deaf is NOT Death. sound same, don't ever think about that.
Same time silly to be walking on the train tracks without looking for trains. Alright, let me get even with you, whoever the hearing people use cell phone while driving without looking for the automobiles.

QUOTE(Face-T @ Mar 15 2006, 03:00) [snapback]587309937[/snapback]

How can you not notice a train coming?
They weigh tonnes and they aren't small.
Not a very smart thing she did at all IMO.
It's a shame she lost her life because of carelessness

Reminding you, Noone is perfect. Anytime, Anywhere can happen to anyone!

QUOTE(quigley0 @ Mar 15 2006, 03:42) [snapback]587310019[/snapback]

Yeah, all of the things in that song dont equal Irony. Irony is the most misunderstood word in the english language.

Also, schadenfreude is generally used in a different way. Lets say the girl was your girlfriend, and she cheated on you. Then she gets hit by a train. And you are happy/delighted about it. That is more of what schadenfreude is.

Having a chuckle at this doesn't equal schadenfreude. You are not "delighted".

Exactly!

Coffeee

Mar 15 2006, 22:18

QUOTE(forster @ Mar 15 2006, 08:23) [snapback]587309883[/snapback]

And all she ever wanted was world peace.

lmao, one of the funnier comments here

LuAnnPurple

Mar 15 2006, 22:18

QUOTE(lylesback2 @ Mar 15 2006, 15:51) [snapback]587311852[/snapback]

always look both ways while crossing the street.. why a deaf person didn't while crossing a railway.. that is still undetermined.

Yes right on, ALWAYS look both ways before crossing the street, railroad, etc.... This one we are not sure what exact happened to her.

Stealthy_Singh

Mar 15 2006, 22:18

How is this ironic?

QUOTE(Fedorpheux @ Mar 15 2006, 04:36) [snapback]587309459[/snapback]

She's deaf and she got killed by something that regular people usually hear (literally) a mile away, or more.
...get it?

erm... this is just unfortunate. If a deaf person got hit by a car because s/he didn't hear the horn is that ironic? Irony isn't that hard to understand people check out a definition in a dictionary.

LuAnnPurple

Mar 15 2006, 22:22

QUOTE(forster @ Mar 15 2006, 02:23) [snapback]587309883[/snapback]

And all she ever wanted was world peace.

YES WORLD PEACE, she would appreciate.

Toxicfume

Mar 15 2006, 22:24

Not one bit ironic.

LuAnnPurple

Mar 15 2006, 22:38

QUOTE(russ0943 @ Mar 14 2006, 22:22) [snapback]587309424[/snapback]

i feel like a bad person. I laughed my ass off. Still a sad story though. If it was someone i knew it would be no laughing matter though.

Yes, it is very sad story. When you laughed your ass off because you STILL don't understand this. Pretend you are totally deaf, Give yourself test. RESEARCH yourself, you would understand better alot faster than I can explain you. I don't want you to feel any kind of insult. I would love to explain this to you.

Fedorpheux

Mar 16 2006, 03:21

QUOTE(LuAnnPurple @ Mar 15 2006, 13:50) [snapback]587311827[/snapback]

Suicidal, NO WAY!! She is not that kind. She have so much dream to move on! Unfortunately, Any noise are the same feelings. We the deaf sometime couldn't feel or tell which noise that is.
Sighing.... Hearing people, why can't you all understand? We the deaf people have to educate hearing people in our lifetime what deaf is like. For your information, All the deaf people have different hearing problem like I cannot hear HIGH PITCH such as fire alarm at all. The force of the horn would hurt hearing people but not to deaf people at all, that depend on how deaf they are. Do you get picture? Feel vibrations, sometime we couldn't tell what it is from. You the Hearing people are very lucky and blessed learned what the sound come from when you were very toddler. GET IT?? Don't ever think this special lady is stuidity. She didn't intent to get close. Things can happened all over close or far...... I would appreciate your understanding and RESPECT this lady and her family who lose loved one. Thank you!

That's all nice and all, but I still don't buy that. I don't if you've ever been close to a train rumbling down the tracks, but I have, multiple times. I don't care how deaf a person is because you'd have to notice it. Your whole body literally shakes. I understand that maybe you wouldn't understand where it was coming from, but maybe the railroad tracks underneath your feet would give you a little hint. And even if you didn't notice those, I know I could look up and look around if my whole body was shaking for an unknown reason.

QUOTE(Stealthy_Singh @ Mar 15 2006, 14:18) [snapback]587311930[/snapback]

How is this ironic?
erm... this is just unfortunate. If a deaf person got hit by a car because s/he didn't hear the horn is that ironic? Irony isn't that hard to understand people check out a definition in a dictionary.

See my later post about it...I clarify/revise what I said in the post that you quoted.

Brandon Live

Mar 16 2006, 06:17

QUOTE(Persephone @ Mar 15 2006, 00:21) [snapback]587309879[/snapback]

^ No...
Americans don't get irony...

Umm... what?

=NickJ=

Mar 16 2006, 13:50

QUOTE(Chaoserver @ Mar 15 2006, 21:59) [snapback]587311874[/snapback]

This isn't ironic at all. Ironic would be a really good hearer being run over by a train. Not a deaf person. And I think the insensitive comments should be pruned.

No that isn't irony at all either jeez.

=NickJ=

Mar 17 2006, 02:41

QUOTE(Brandon Live @ Mar 16 2006, 06:17) [snapback]587313402[/snapback]

Umm... what?

Its a common idea in England that American's don't get irony. So far this thread is proving it right