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drak's sekrits

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Wit

Drak

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I like people who style themselves as witty, letting fly with the snappy comeback like Oscar Wilde was said to have done back in the gay 1890's.
Bless them, because they entertain.
Wit is not exclusively a gay talent, although I suppose being gay might nurture the wit in some way, in some cultures.

 

I put a cork on the bottle of wit a long time ago and put the bottle on the shelf.
I don't trust wit and don't wish to use it, anymore than I do liquor.
Wit requires speed in execution, and speed leads to mistakes.
I've seen what the rush to mirth can do... harm relations, damage reputations, make new and unexpected enemies.
WIt is born of Boredom, the child of an active intellect annoyed by the humdrum pace of social interactions that the Norms call Society.

 

Ask Oscar Wilde what wit did for him, against the legal mechanizations of Bosie's Papa and the harsh realities of Victorian England.
Two years in prison at hard labour, financial ruin and separation from his wife and children forever. Besides that, no more plays.
The sweet Nightingale was silenced Forever. Like jailing Shakespeare because he compared his boy to a summer's day.

 

It is better to keep witticisms to one's self or for private utterance with intimate friends.
Nice and dull wins more friends than witty and harsh by about a thousand to one, every day of the week and in every kind of weather.
However, perceiving this truth requires a different variety of intelligence than the kind that fuels wit.

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Zombie

Zombie 13,511

Posted

"Ask Oscar Wilde what wit did for him, against the legal mechanizations of Bosie's Papa and the harsh realities of Victorian England.

Two years in prison at hard labour, financial ruin and separation from his wife and children forever. Besides that, no more plays.
The sweet Nightingale was silenced Forever. Like jailing Shakespeare because he compared his boy to a summer's day...Nice and dull wins more friends than witty and harsh by about a thousand to one, every day of the week and in every kind of weather. However, perceiving this truth requires a different variety of intelligence than the kind that fuels wit."

 

Yes, wit - and much humour - is often harsh, cruel even. But so is life. It may not win friends but it can shine a light on human behaviour and its absurdity. Whatever, it is deeply embedded in European culture and is often unfathomable to Americans.

 

Had Wilde chosen "nice and dull" he would probably have lived a long life. And a dull life. And a forgotten life. And very likely a less happy life. His personal tragedy was largely brought about by his choices to attract and be the centre of attention through his wit. For a time he was the glittering star in the firmament. And what a star. His life and works brought, and continue to bring, great pleasure to countless people and will always be remembered.

 

I'm thankful he didn't choose nice and dull.

 

 

 

 

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Drak

Drak 140

Posted

 

"Ask Oscar Wilde what wit did for him, against the legal mechanizations of Bosie's Papa and the harsh realities of Victorian England.

Two years in prison at hard labour, financial ruin and separation from his wife and children forever. Besides that, no more plays.

The sweet Nightingale was silenced Forever. Like jailing Shakespeare because he compared his boy to a summer's day...Nice and dull wins more friends than witty and harsh by about a thousand to one, every day of the week and in every kind of weather. However, perceiving this truth requires a different variety of intelligence than the kind that fuels wit."

 

Yes, wit - and much humour - is often harsh, cruel even. But so is life. It may not win friends but it can shine a light on human behaviour and its absurdity. Whatever, it is deeply embedded in European culture and is often unfathomable to Americans.

 

Had Wilde chosen "nice and dull" he would probably have lived a long life. And a dull life. And a forgotten life. And very likely a less happy life. His personal tragedy was largely brought about by his choices to attract and be the centre of attention through his wit. For a time he was the glittering star in the firmament. And what a star. His life and works brought, and continue to bring, great pleasure to countless people and will always be remembered.

 

I'm thankful he didn't choose nice and dull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me too. But would we want to *be* Oscar Wilde? I don't think so...

Nice and dull for me, anonymity and forgotten after death. That's a-OK. In exchange, a long, pleasurable life, friends, lovers, and being thought well of in the present.

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