Slagging
In Ireland, part of the social landscape is what we call “slagging”, various levels of mockery and sarcasm and personal abuse weaponised as affection among groups of friends and family.
If you accidentally wander into the field of fire, try to remember that we’re not making fun of you; it’s just how Irish people are. Or, to be more accurate, we are making fun of you but it’s just how Irish people are. If you’re able to give it back, feel free to do so, but it’s a fine line.
Reginald D. Hunter tells the extraordinary tale of how he met his manager when an Irish guy rolled up after a gig and introduced himself with, “Jesus you’re a big, mean-looking cunt!”
When Reg’s friends adopted a combat stance, he told them it was all right because “I speak Irish”.
Some of this may sound familiar to any Americans who are into underground comedy clubs, because it’s basically a roast battle, except you didn’t sign up to be the victim, and it might last forever.
If you object to the vituperative invective, you will be met with the riposte, “I’m only slagging,” and everyone in the room will side with your attacker. In fact, slagging is so much part of what we do, we find it unthinkable if someone objects.
So what can explain this culture of socially-sanctioned bullying?
Maybe it’s related to the fact that Irish people are among the most repressed in the world. We are uncomfortable talking about genuine feelings, sexuality, mental health, and Mark Twain’s two eminently avoidable conversation topic, politics and religion. You might think that everyone finds these things difficult to discuss, but Irish people have some next-level avoidance strategies (although we’re getting better).
The two greatest avoidance strategies have historically been alcoholism and freestyle abuse, both of which can be connected, and both of which will be presented as “a bit of craic,” i.e. the kind of thing that only an antisocial curmudgeon would begrudge his peers.
So, in the absence of actual meaningful dialogue, slagging has become a tool of communication. We all do it. I do it. And for all I know, it might be saving lives.
Just don’t take any of it personally.
