canklecat

The Velominati Rules are funny in the sense that any irony is "funny".

The problem is that the more deft the irony, the more likely it is to be mistaken for something serious. So, Poe's Law often applies.

And as David Foster Wallace complained before unironically offing himself, irony wore out its welcome years ago. Irony was appropriate and perhaps necessary during the 1950s-'70s cultural upheaval as a subversive sort of pointed humor about our collective quirks and failings.

But now irony is more of a cop-out, an evasion. Like too much of Frank Zappa's music, irony gives the storyteller a thin veil of smugness to hide behind. Irony allows the creator an easy way to evade criticism. If you get the joke, hey, you're one of the cool kids. If you don't, well... you're so unhip it's a wonder you don't need suspenders to hold up your underwear. And if you get the joke but don't think it's brilliant, well, you're just too dense to get the joke. Have another toke and chill, dude.

Maybe sincerity is the new irony. But the problem with being twee is you have to unironically enjoy Wes Anderson movies, Talulah Gosh music, Tex-Nam restaurants run by hipsters and riding fixies.

mstateglfr 

Out of all this, what I took away is your apparent need to point out my lack of apostrophe.

Of course people can talk about the rules, no matter how sophomoric and unfunny they are.
I simply have trouble envisioning a scenario where someone feels compelled to cite the rules to friends of Facebook, either as a joke or serious. Just seems like a lot of effort for not much payoff.

Like you point out, we are free to disagree. Some find the rules funny just like some find Kathy Griffin funny. Pretty sure there is a lot of crossover in that Venn Diagram.

Happy Feet

Hey, I like Wes Anderson movies... and I'm old (ish). Isn't that ironic.

livedarklions

I can't get past how badly constructed the rules are as a joke. I've never been able to actually force myself to read all the way through them as it becomes apparent that the thing was cooked by too many chefs. It really can't decide what it's supposed to be, seeming to start as a parody of "serious cyclist" attitudes, then it turns into an unfunny, not useful list of a bunch of pet peeves about stickers on bikes and the like.

Mostly, it's just tedious but with a very few funny lines.

Flip Flop Rider

so is the issue that some are offended by others posting/quoting from the book? Or is the issue that the book is not funny to you?

either way, first world problems

indyfabz

The concept of freedom of speech reflected in the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has no applicability to Facebook or privately-owned Internet forums like Bike Forums.

Phil_gretz

I like the Velominati Rules. Many of them are spot on. If you've been riding long enough, you realize this to be true. Sur la Plaque are words to live by.

And I'll admit that I violate a few of them (frame mounted pumps, and mountain bike pedals on my commuter). I'm so ashamed...

livedarklions

I am shocked, shocked that first world problems are being discussed on an internet bicycling forum!

Speaking only for myself, I am not offended in the least. I'm just expressing an opinion that they aren't, for the most part, funny, and there seems to be some confusion as to whether or not some of the rules are serious or just poorly constructed parody.

I do find it funny that someone launched into a "freedom of speech" tirade when someone else said the rules were tedious reading that shouldn't be recommended to anyone.

eja_ bottecchia

Exactly.

livedarklions

His fan might get angry.

mstateglfr 

This.

It seems to bounce between earnest and ironic. It both attempts to set arbitrary elitist expectations and pokes fun at arbitrary elitist expectations.
It just ends up being a bore.
But hey- what people find funny is often curious and usually wide ranging.

Flip Flop Rider

agree 100%, well said

tagaproject6

Well, this is going south

BCDrums

I had to look up Poe's Law. I never mistook Velominati for a parody. I think that The Rules are sincere, but that the writers know that they have gone over the top and so they make some fun of themselves. And I agree with livedarklions that they run out of gas after a while. But I find it funny and creative.

Do whut? My idea of irony is the pot calling the kettle black. Maybe I don't understand irony. Is that too twee?

All best!

BCDrums

Well, your honor, I'd just like to say that [deleted by moderator]

indyfabz

Wut. If you have, I don't think it's appropriate to make it look like a mod edited your post what one did not.

BCDrums

I thought you would get the joke. Apologies.

BCDrums

I guess, in the end, humor is like a frog: if you dissect it, you'll probably kill it.

livedarklions

I think the Velominati Rules suffer from another problem--that which is merely mildly amusing becomes annoying with repetition.

JehD

I have violated so many Im surprised Im not banned.

tkamd73 

Facebook really? People still care about that? I love the Velominati website, have the icon on my phone and iPad, Lots laughs on that site, lots of common sense too. Always check to see if, and how many rules I’ve violated before and after a ride. Usually follow most of them though, at least the ones that pertain to the bike.
Tim

jon c. 

I think the rules are amusing. Not side splitting, but worthy of a chuckle. Although satire is a tough sell these days as a lot of folks seem to take everything seriously.

I avoid Facebook as I don't find it amusing or entertaining.

canklecat

But a corollary claims that which is annoying with some repetition becomes amusing again with more repetition.

Alas, there is no full length version of this video. According to Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler on RadioLab a few years ago the longest they ever drew out this sketch was nearly an hour for an Australian audience that went through every stage of grief in the process. The BBC version is so truncated and forced it never reaches the first stage of grief.

It amuses me because it reminds me of the idiocy my brother and I indulged in as kids to drive mom crazy on days when we had to stay home. Sorta appropriate for the COVID-19 pandemic. Some families will not survive each other unless they can find nirvana amid repetition.

Maelochs

Wouldn't going over the top and thus making fun of something be.... parody? The extreme rules would be parodies of the less extreme rules, exaggerated for the sake of humor .... pretty good definition. [/QUOTE]
No .... that would be hypocrisy. "Irony" is the opposite of what is expected .... Jacques Cousteau drowning in his bathtub after risking his life in thousands of ocean dives .... a person who wins at Russian Roulette dying ... by laughing so hard in relief that he chokes ..... an unexpected twist .... or the "so common it is no longer ironic" Christian preacher who got on TV every Sunday railing against sin and temptation getting caught with a hooker, or stealing from the church, or using money stolen from the church to pay for gay hookers and meth .... or the politicians who propose "family values" bills getting busted with hookers .....

Twee is overly sweet, sort of manufactured cuteness .... people pretending to be naive and open and childlike and totally real ....

In my understanding.

Darth Lefty 

It’s like ray e aaay ain on your wedding day