History Main / LiteralistSnarking

Codenames are Stupid is is, then.

This is the technique of putting a sarcastic twist on the more plain meaning of something. Though [[LiteralMinded literal-mindedness]] is often associated with [[SarcasmBlind not understanding sarcasm]], in some cases [[DeadpanSnarker snarking]] and literal-mindedness can go hand-in-hand. Be warned that this tactic has a tendency to backfire, as the recepient might shoot back with calling you dumb for "not understanding figures of speech" or what-have-you -- which, in turn, makes them "guilty" of not understanding what you meant.

* WesternAnimation/BugsBunny falls on the receiving end of this trope in the WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes cartoon "WesternAnimation/KnightyKnightBugs", where he plays a jester in Myth/KingArthur's court:

'''Ziyal:''' It might not be so bad. For all we know, the Vorta could be gluttonous, alcoholic sex-maniacs.

[[folder: Audio Drama]]

'''Shooter:''' ''[{{Beat}}]'' No.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona3'', after [[{{Ubermensch}} Takaya]] gives a MotiveRant about "shining a light upon this darkened world", Junpei [[ShutUpHannibal yells back]]:

* In ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'', Sage asks Sonic what is his endgoal. Sonic responds “Eh, it varies; sometimes it’s a spinning sign, sometimes it’s a big ol’ ring!”

* William of Malmesbury, an English monk and historian, recorded an anecdote of this involving a King Charles the Bald and a philosopher and theologian named John Scotus Eriugena. The king, in an attempt at humour, asked Eriugena: "What separates a Scot from a sot (drunkard)?" Eriugena replied: "Only a table".

* In "Giantkiller" by Ben Jeapes, a TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture story published in ''Magazine/{{Interzone}}, a door-to-door saleswoman is having trouble getting customers in a posh housing estate; everyone she speaks to over the intercom is polite, superficially reasonable, and utterly impossible to engage with. A vicar who has been having similar difficulty explains that they aren't actually speaking to people at all, just the house AI, and unless they're on the whitelist or can convince the AI it's a matter of the owner's safety, they won't even give them the time of day. At the next house, she asks for the time of day, and the AI gives it because it has no reason not to.

* In a story in ''Magazine/{{Interzone}}'' set TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture, a door-to-door saleswoman is having trouble getting customers in a posh housing estate; everyone she speaks to over the intercom is polite, superficially reasonable, and utterly impossible to engage with. A vicar who has been having similar difficulty explains that they aren't actually speaking to people at all, just the house AI, and unless they're on the whitelist or can convince the AI it's a matter of the owner's safety, they won't even give them the time of day. At the next house, she asks for the time of day, and the AI gives it because it has no reason not to.

* Dad jokes tend to run on this. A common variant would be "I'm hungry/cold/tired/etc.", and the response is "Hi, Hungry/Cold/Tired/Etc. I'm Dad."

-->'''Salazar''': So maybe you do have nine lives. But it doesn't matter now, Mr. Kennedy! I've sent my [[TheDragon right hand]] to dispose of you.
-->'''Leon''': [[DetachmentCombat Your right hand comes off?]]

* Creator/{{GK Chesterton}}'s response to one of Holbrook Jackson's platitudes.

-->We tried to integrate a restaurant, and they said, 'We don't [[ToServeMan serve]] colored folk here,' and I said, 'Well, I don't eat colored folk nowhere. Bring me some pork chops.'
* Awsten Knight from Music/Waterparks's response to guilt-tripping fans: