Former future president, or the importance of being funny

Vadim Olshevsky, matematician (USA)

You know, in England from time immemorial it was customary to be a little ironic over yourself. banter. The British have long been accustomed to this, and do not take it at face value. They just smile.

The Americans adopted the tradition of joking with themselves from the British. Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Obama liked to make fun of themselves. Trump, however, interrupted this custom. Because a serious person, therefore.

There is no tradition of irony at oneself in Russian culture. You know, I'm probably the first in Russian culture to introduce it there, this self-irony.

Well? It's hard to be a pioneer. Rude! Moreover, they are rude, without realizing it. They think they are continuing my joke. Therefore, I will now quickly conduct a master class and teach you all how to respond to self-irony.

Remember, it is right to refute self-irony. Under no circumstances should you agree with her. Because irony is not self-irony. If you still want to answer my joke with your own (which is already impudence, I think), then joke on yourself, not on me.

Let me give you a few compelling examples to get you across. I'm still a teacher! I know that without an example, half does not reach.

Let's say you're talking to a Jew.

“As you know,” this Jew tells you, smiling. – As you know, we Jews are a practical people.

Attention! Stop! He is self-deprecating. In no case should you take his words at face value. You can't agree. You can’t say, they say, yes, money is the most important thing for you. That would be anti-Semitism. It's better to say - ha! And let him continue.

Or, also for you as an example, you are talking to a Russian person.

- As you know, - this Russian tells you, smiling, - We, Russians, love to drink.

Attention! Stop! He is self-deprecating. In no case should you take his words at face value. You can't agree. You can’t say, they say, yes, from you all the time it smells of fuselage! And everything that you carry is nonsense! It's better to say - ha! And let him continue.

You can even try to refute them. Say, yes. How many among the Jews were poets, scientists, unmercenaries. Or say yes. If you look at the statistics, alcohol consumption per capita in Ireland or Germany is higher than in Russia.

I hope that I have explained the thesis in an accessible way, up to the withdrawal from the class of those who did not get it the first time.

***

At one time, Al Gore lost the election to George W. Bush, although he was predicted to win easily.

A couple of years later, Gore performed in Japan and Korea.

"Hello", Horus began both lectures in the same way. “I am Al Gore, former future president of the United States".

In Japan, the audience neighed. And in Korea there was deathly silence.

It turns out that in Korea the translator simply translated, and in Japan he also added from himself - he is ironic. In America, high-ranking people often do this. Do not attach any importance to this. You just need to laugh a little.