MetaChat - Laugh? I thought I'd die!

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04 March 2008

Laugh? I thought I'd die! What is the absolute best quotation or song or cartoon or bite-sized media consumable that sums up the absurdity of life?

→[More:]Without too much stupid detail, i was sucker-punched last night with information that is the equivalent of waking up one morning to find that Charles Manson has been elected pope and oh, by the way, your pregnant sister is actually a man.

I'm curious now for quotes or the like that can adequately convey the absurdity, my incredulity, and the vague horror of it all. I am coming up very short.

post by: crush-onastick at: 11:08 | 37 comments

WTF! comes to mind....but that's too simple isn't it?
Sacre bleu? nope...

posted by mightshould 04 March | 11:20

Given your description, I'm mighty curious about what is equivalent to "Charles Manson has been elected pope and oh, by the way, your pregnant sister is actually a man."

posted by lleachie 04 March | 11:21

I've always loved replying to the ubiquitous "How are you?" with "Livin' the dream, still livin' the dream". I am guessing that this wacko shift in your environs may cause people to ask you how you are. Feel free to reply as I do.

posted by richat 04 March | 11:39

This helps, sometimes.

posted by danf 04 March | 12:08

Kurt Vonnegut's "everything was beautiful and nothing hurt". My bf thinks his "so it goes" works well too.

posted by LunaticFringe 04 March | 12:14

C'est la vie.

posted by ColdChef 04 March | 12:43

At work, the common question is "how's it goin?" and the response is always "it's goin."

Or when they ask about my plastic empire (aka film), the response is 'getting heavier by the day' (because I've been doing nothing but shelving, which makes the trays heavier.)

posted by sperose 04 March | 12:48

Redonkulous.

John 3:16.

Well butter my biscuts and call me Irene.

posted by rainbaby 04 March | 12:57

"I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused."

First thing to spring to mind. An imperfect fit, though.

posted by ibmcginty 04 March | 12:58

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

If we're talking about short, snappy comments, perhaps you meant John 11:35?

posted by matthewr 04 March | 13:23

Whassat, Jesus Wept? That is better.

I didn't mean any offense - I was thinking of the actual words John 3:16. As an exclamation. Like a sign at the sports stadium. Not the verse itself.

posted by rainbaby 04 March | 13:29

OK rainbaby, I know I have it in you.

I am expecting to go to flickr within the next few days and see you in a rainbow fro holding a John 3:16 sign.

You know you want to!

posted by danf 04 March | 13:33

Ah, I hadn't heard of the stadium sign thing.

posted by matthewr 04 March | 13:44

"There is no solution, because there is no problem"
- Marcel Duchamp

posted by Hellbient 04 March | 13:49

OK rainbaby, I know I have it in you.

On one hand, I'm impressed that you could have it in her across the miles. On the other, the fact that you know you have it in her, but she hasn't seemed to notice yet...well....

posted by jrossi4r 04 March | 13:51

the John 3:16 guy

posted by BoringPostcards 04 March | 13:53

About the guy who did the stadium sign thing.

When live produces crazy plot twists, I usually ask "When did God retire and make Rod Serling his replacement?" It does help explain everything that's happened since Serling's untimely death in 1975.

posted by wendell 04 March | 13:59

jrossi4r, my comment was merely banter, based on a couple years of threads and comments, albeit superficial. I, in fact do not personally know this person, nor you, nor anyone else who posts here. Never been in anyone's presence. Very minimal emailing.

With all of the snappy reparte in Metachat, I am bemused that you would choose that little comment to call me out on.

In the future, I'll endeavor to limit my interactions with people here, and my comments, to my concrete knowledge of facts.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

posted by danf 04 March | 14:02

(I think jrossi4r was joking with ya, danf... "You've got it in her but she hasn't noticed," wink wink nudge nudge)

posted by BoringPostcards 04 March | 14:05

I'll second BoPo's assessment of the situation danf. For what it's worth, I'm still livin' the dream up here.

posted by richat 04 March | 14:15

danf, jrossi was being dirrrrrtyyyyyyyy....

posted by gaspode 04 March | 14:22

Hey, is that a bridge to your country or are you just happy to see me?

posted by Hellbient 04 March | 14:23

OK it was MY typo that started it. I did not notice until just a few seconds ago.

Sorry jross4r. I was out of line.

And I hate to throw away a perfectly good snit on a typo that I did and didn't even notice!

I stand corrected and a bit contrite.

posted by danf 04 March | 14:31

Wow. John 3:16 seems to work.

No, danf is not pulling some kind of California Voodo Hippie Time/Space Nutty Stuff on me and never has, but I wouldn't be surprised if somehow he could. He's a perfect gentleman about his Powers of Superness, though.

I think we've lost sight of what's important here. How did Crush-Ona's Sister get the Pope Preggers? Are you ok crush-onastick?

posted by rainbaby 04 March | 14:41

I also thinkg "livin the dream" would be a great Photo Friday.

posted by rainbaby 04 March | 14:48

oh, i thought danf was in england, but I guess that's TheDonF. So I got nothing.

posted by Hellbient 04 March | 14:49

I think Here We Are fits the absurd theme.
Well, here we are with burning skin
Where we've always been [full lyrics]

posted by moonshine 04 March | 14:58

That is correct about the f/F people, hellbient. I thought your bridge comment was directed to richat, so that's something.

posted by rainbaby 04 March | 15:01

Btw, i was joking in the gay sex thread, too. You don't have to get all mad.

"I'd have to say, up the butt, Bob."

posted by ethylene 04 March | 15:14

i'm okay. just stumbling around in a fog of WTF? WT*F* wtf?!?.

I'd prefer to be doubled up in w.t.f laughter. but perhaps that will come.

posted by crush-onastick 04 March | 15:38

The End of the World, and the catchphrase it spawned: "W. T. F. mate?!?"

As urbandictionary.com describes it: "is said in moments of confusion, surprise, or disgust." I would say, "confusion, surprise, and/or disgust" is applicable in your situation.

posted by muddgirl 04 March | 15:50

Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

- Douglas Adams

posted by doctor_negative 04 March | 16:36

Oh wow! Yeah, I was really just making a smartass comment. I'm so sorry it got misconstrued. I totally wouldn't post something mean to you danf. I like you tons. :-)

posted by jrossi4r 04 March | 17:34

well jrossi4r, it was MY typo, and the fact that I missed it until much later that was the cause if my misconstruing your comment. so, again, I apologize.

you know when you get set off and it's way out of proportion to the actual dealie in front of you? and you have to conclude that within you it's a response to other stuff that may have happened in the past? and you wanna find a hole in the floor?

it's one of those.

although I think a not insignificant number of us, regardless of gender, if they were honest, would not mind having it in her, no?

posted by danf 04 March | 17:44

Pain or damage don't end the world, or despair, or fuckin' beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man -- and give some back.

-- Al Swearengen

posted by kirkaracha 04 March | 17:52

First off, people still hold John 3:16 signs up at all kinds of stadium events.

Secondly, danf's slip and the fallout is totally making my day. In fact, I wouldn't mind a not insignificant number of yous, regardless of gender, having it in me. In pretend internets crush theory, of course.

Thirdly, I am really sorry if I offended the Christian bunnies - but the John 3:16 thing, is, well, just this THING. It's so odd to me. Like, Jesus will make my team win. That's what's absurd, in addition to the Absurd Rainbow Dude, who kinda almost pre-dates me - I don't remember him so much, but I remember and still see the signs. I didn't know about his whole story, so thanks to folks who provided those links.

posted by rainbaby 04 March | 18:48

Marcel Duchamp's quote is a good one. I like to say that life's too serious to be taken seriously.

posted by halonine 05 March | 01:39

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