Discussion Forum

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Extract from Story:
Polls don’t lie. People are protesting in the streets. This biblical-type pandemic is spreading around the world, and Donald Trump is facing a landslide loss in November. Why? The do-nothing guy in the White House did nothing but give his rich friends a tax break, and he started to build part of the wall. No one wanted the wall but Trump. It was just Trump’s noise-making promise that went nowhe.....

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Please discuss at will.
PLEASE NOTE: The story you are discussing is a JOKE. It is a SPOOF NEWS story written on a SPOOF NEWS website.

What part of this political diatribe was satire, or for that matter, funny?

I may be missing the joke, but was this story supposed to make me laugh?

I might be partly responsible for the confusion here.

Recently, I might have written to several writers asking them what was funny about their particular story. This would imply that there has to be something funny in it.

I've also said, however, that, if there isn't anything funny in it, then it should, at least, have something meaningful to say.

I think this story does.

I think all of her stuff does.

I don't know whether I agree with her or not, but that's not the point. The point is that the story has to be written in a style that mimics the styles we see in newspapers.

Into the bargain, I think her story is funny, although it's not always what she writes, but how she presents it.

But, anyway, this is what the forum is for, so it might be useful to hear other people's opinions as well.

No disagreement about how well written it is. But it may not be written in a style which “mimics” a newspaper. It is exactly in the style you might read in a ( well written ) newspaper.

As far as enjoying it, l did. I think enjoying it depends on whether one agrees with it. But I could have found it in a left leaning newspaper, or on a website.

The good Doctor has made it known that he likes Mr. Trump. He wouldn’t likely be looking to admire this writer’s style, but I think he may have a point in wondering why this well written opinion piece is here.

Did I mention that I thought it was well written?

I hate to disagree...blah, blah blah. But I find her stories humorless and mean-spirited.

Her only redeeming feature, I suppose, is that she takes herself seriously.

Other than that, I suggest that she confine her writing to obituaries and holocausts.

Dr. B

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Quote: Thelonius

I think he may have a point in wondering why this well written opinion piece is here.

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Yes, I'm always wondering whether or not her stories should be in the Magazine section or not. Sometimes, I change them to Magazine, but, because that section is regarded by some as being a 'graveyard', I try to give her the benefit of the doubt.

As far as having to agree with her views in order to be able to enjoy her material goes, I don't agree. I'm often ignorant of the some of the details she writes about, and don't know if they are true or not. I still like her style, and her stuff is always worth reading.

It would be interesting to discover what Dr. B thinks of the Trump material written by other writers.

Excuse me for interrupting, I know that I am quite disliked here. However, one of the reasons why I left here 3 years ago was constant discussion and arguments with Mark and MW about spoofs which were either based and twisted on real news happening in the world or, some form of political opinion without having any humor whatsoever.

This particular writer, and others here, spoof (or write) constantly about humorless current affairs, Trump politics and, actual events, seemingly without abiding to editorial guidelines. It seems this particular 'non-spoof' is a typical example of that and has not been rejected deemed as non-acceptable because it's real news and certainly not a spoof.

Dear Editors, please clarify. OK, I have returned because I genuinely loved this place and missed spoofing, but the discrepancies and non-transparency between rejection and acceptance of our works is quite frustrating, baffling, and was a definite reason to leave. But love has funny ways of forgiving..

Just to add something completely different. Maybe Mark could add an 'art feature' because art is an open book, important, and he may not reject artistic spoofs if he had a more 'artistic' (not autistic) mind. Have a great day ladies and gentlemen and I wish you all the very best health in these most disturbing times...JO

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Quote: Jaggedone

Excuse me for interrupting, I know that I am quite disliked here.

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A great start.

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Quote: Jaggedone

However, one of the reasons why I left here 3 years ago

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A year and two months.

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Quote: Jaggedone

constant discussion and arguments with Mark and MW about spoofs which were either based and twisted on real news happening in the world or, some form of political opinion without having any humor whatsoever.

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Mostly true. Stories based on real events have to either distort them somewhat, or have something meaningful or insightful to say about them. Or both. Opinions are good, but might then land it in the Magazine.

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Quote: Jaggedone

This particular writer, and others here, spoof (or write) constantly about humorless current affairs, Trump politics and, actual events, seemingly without abiding to editorial guidelines. It seems this particular 'non-spoof' is a typical example of that and has not been rejected deemed as non-acceptable because it's real news and certainly not a spoof.

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I think that, although Trump's antics are very real, and his 'truth' is almost more ridiculous than anybody could hatch as a spoof, it's the writing style that is funny, and not especially the content. A lot of K.C. Bell's stories end up in the Magazine, and that should be borne in mind.

Your point about some writers sticking to one subject, is fair, however, though there are no rules against it.

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Quote: Jaggedone

Dear Editors, please clarify. OK, I have returned because I genuinely loved this place and missed spoofing, but the discrepancies and non-transparency between rejection and acceptance of our works is quite frustrating, baffling, and was a definite reason to leave. But love has funny ways of forgiving...

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I accept that criticism. I do, however, try to be fair to everyone. I'll message you about this, because that's the right thing to do here.

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Quote: Jaggedone

Just to add something completely different. Maybe Mark could add an 'art feature' because art is an open book,

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I like this idea, although he might say the Magazine is for the more 'arty' stuff. Worth consideration, though.

I suggest that we have a category for political articles that have been rejected by the New York Times and/or the Washington Post, either for not being progressive enough for the Opinion Section or funny enough for the Comic Section.

Or, perhaps have a “Vitally Concerned Non-Entity” section to replace the Magazine section. These stories could remain in Limbo, unread and under-appreciated, until discovered by archeologists some century in the future.

If you - and you know who you are - were expecting me to bend over and accept goose-stepping anarchists and Commie-Pinko ideologists taking over The Spoof, I would suggest you go quietly into the wind and find another forum for your diatribes.

Respectfully,

Dr. B

MW, time flies and I am not a great timekeeper, sorry, I thought, and it seemed much longer, apologies.

You can explain as much as you want, but sadly you have pissed enough writers off here, and many do not like your mannerisms and quotes, just like me. OK, I can deal with that, but I cannot handle inequalities that you and Mark tend to prefer allowing some boring, non-humorous tripe to be published here, my subjective opinion, nothing else.

As for twists in actual news stories, well too many spoofers now do not twist, they just add a non-funny punch line for example and IMHO, that is what you allow.

I stand up to be shot down, as always, but nothing will ever change my opinion about the demise of outrageously funny, humorous, on the edge, satirical works being published here, and you and Mark are partly to blame for that demise.

Never mind, I'll give it a whack once again, see if things improve hopefully, and maybe some of our ex-great writers will do the same. Not meaning that there are no present superb writers here, of course there are, and I wish them all the success they deserve/ US and UK...

A perfect example of the Poindexter Effect overriding common-sense solutions to dissonance reduction.

,You are just so not-funny it makes me laugh....

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Quote: Dr. Billingsgate

A perfect example of the Poindexter Effect overriding common-sense solutions to dissonance reduction.

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You have finally broken the code. Congratulations!