What is it? Is it part of your experience? ~ part of your 'tradition'? Have you been on the recieving end? Have you delivered as you get? Would you consider it as a part of any aspect of 'tradition', and if so, in what flavours? Have you known it to take that step too far? And what about collateral damage, when some poor 'beginner' or 'inexperienced' soul gets caught in the crossfire? ~ As I have seen happen, and have been left to try and pick up the pieces at times...
This has me on edge and nervous, just knowing I'm setting myself up for a roasting, for which I may be long overdo and deserving... I'm adding this in part to make restitution to 'Welshman', after asking him if he wasn't experienced with this practice, or was he one of the lucky few living in a sheltered vale somewhere in the hills of Cymru/Wales. (I have had the benefit of that for a time...) It is also in part the result several of us getting locked in a corner with one 'portnabpucai' over the weekend, and seemingly no escape... It made me 'reconsider' my assumptions, which is always a good thing.
I had to ask myself where I first came across this phenomena. It was after I moved to Dublin. But how much was it actually a part of my life there? I had a good think and I have to say ~ not much. I did experience it in a few situations, including dance, but even there it wasn't constant. I considered all the venues I'd found myself in over time, and most of them were free of it, including, I have to say, all the regular sessions I attended. I actually think I had more teasing on the dance floor than in a session, and never in a house gathering of any sort. Come to think of it, the slagging on the dance floor was by people who are also musicians, as they gave out to each other in musical settings too. As far as who participated in those few experiences, speaking in general again, my experience of it, it tended to most often between people who knew each other, friends...
So, not much in Dublin, even if it was my first burning... On a wider consideration, I've come across it more outside of Eire than in, out in the wider world. There did tend to be a representative number hailing from the cities of Eire in these cases though. On deeper reflection, I've never had it in the countryside in Eire that I can recollect, except where the locals were outnumbered by 'tourists' from Dublin and the larger urban connerbations ~ and as said previously, I never came across it in a house or kitchen, where I only ever found courtesy, welcome and consideration ~ and more innocent humour.
There are times I've felt the burn deep, and really hurt, but kept it shtrum, and I've seen the hurt in others and felt for them. I've also seen those that seem to get a great pleasure out of looking for the softest part of a person to make the deepest dig, the most painful cut, to get the greatest reaction. I've seen it escalate and become nasty too, and scary. That has happened here on site, but I have to say, only occassionally. But I don't want to analyze it that much to give out percentages in that regard.
I have used it inappropriately, or it has used me as it sometimes feel, where I've been tactless, inconsiderate, far from diplomatic... I'm glad that is infrequent. I don't tend to do it for spite, such as out of a reaction of hurt, and I always regret it if I let slip in that way. I only 'tease', in any sense of that, people I like. Overstepping has happened when I forget the understanding I have that some folks don't take well to teasing or any form of percieved criticism. I prefer to respect those limitations and to not wind those up who are unable to take it. But as said, there are times my wife has had to give me a good kick or leave a bruise on my arm, or bruise me with her stare... There are times I act on instinct, which isn't always connected to the situation. Mostly my teasing has been playful and even complimentary. A place to be wary of such things would be here, where we mostly do not know each other well, and can assume too much, or react too readily with bite...
Here's the formal definitions and origins:
slag / slagging ~
Collins: British, Australia, New Zealand ~ slang, often followed by 'off', to criticize in an unpleasant way.
Oxford: ~ criticize (someone) in an abusive and insulting manner.
ORIGIN: mid 16th Century ~ from Middle Low German 'slagge', perhaps from 'slagen' "strike", with reference to fragments formed by hammering. The verb sense 'criticize' dates from the 1970s. (When I moved to Dublin! ~ )
Generally you only slag your buddies in front of your buddies and never outside the group. If you know a group of fellas a long time then 'tis an acceptable form of fun. The general rule of thumb re slagging is don't give it out if you can't take it.
There is also a fine line between insulting and slagging. Also some fellas are better than it than others, if you don't want to come a cropper in don't start a slag you know you'll be beat in.
Possibly the best slagging I ever heard was when a Belfast friend of mine started referring to an unsettling Dutch chap as 'eejityhooks McGinty'. Although this is probably more towards the 'Shock and Awe' end of the Slag-o-meter.
Slagging is not an institution as it is sometimes claimed in The North: its an Art form and should be practiced with all the subtlety, inspiration, freedom and silliness of an Art form.
I was sitting in a session in Milltown with some mere mortal people and some famous people, Alec Finn being one of them. Within the space of 15 minutes a second concertina player joined the session, then another, then another... after a short period of uncanny farmyard type sounds Finn moved to put the bozouki back in its case remarking- "This session is starting to sound like a f**king rusty bicycle".
Best one I heard was a repost by Mike Harding who was being heckled quite rudely by a barman (who was used to being the centre of attention). He said "Listen mate, if it's a battle of wits you want, I don't fight with unarmed men!"
TommyB has it ... 'If you know a group of fellas a long time then 'tis an acceptable form of fun. The general rule of thumb re slagging is don't give it out if you can't take it'
so it's kinda impossible to describe a good slag as you have to be there in the moment and know the people well.
Otherwise it's just rudeness and there's plenty of that here betimes.
A bodhrán playing friend of mine is probably the most tenacious slagger I've ever met. He once got into a slagging match with a flute player (who shall remain nameless) ; the fluter seemed to have gained the upper hand but my mate swore he'd get him back.
Months later he got his chance; the fluter was staying over in his house. He'd had a skinful to drink and, during the course of the night's slumber, had a small accident of the "number 2" variety in the spare bed.
Of course my mate set to work photographing the evidence and creating numerous photocopies - which were later plastered all over the walls of the pub where both were due to play a session one evening.
For a long time after that, the offending fluter was nicknamed "sh!t-the-bed"
BB, when it comes naturally I guess you get to the point where you just don't realize it's happening... It's like pickin' your nose when you're driving, and I wish you would stop that habit...and rolling it up into balls and tossin' it in the back...
Once read an article that tried to explain why we slag our friends what are the rules of it etc. My good friends and I give eachother hell all the time. I expect that at times stranger must wonder if we don't hate eachother. The problem with translating it to the internets is that you lose all the subtle signs of a tease: facial cues, tone of voice. Also, sometimes you think you are closer to someone online than they do and an intended ribbing becomes an insult.
Whenever I slag a friend online there is a brief instant of panic as I hit send: "will this turn into a fight?"
Why isn't there a CEE All Ireland category for slaggin? If you can win an All Ireland title for lilting and miscelaneous accompaniment and bollix like that, I say that slagging deserves it's own All Ireland Championship as well! Who's with me?
Here, here matan_fiddler, BB and de Selby ~ let's petition for an All-Ireland Slagging match and title... I'd pay to watch or sit in on the finals... As has been said previously, it is a 'fine art'...
Desi Adam's, flute, Belfast - Undefeated Slagging Champion of the World - Heavy Weight.
Americans are great slagging fodder - fair game - hardly an ounce of irony between them.
An uilleann piper friend of mine who we will call for now Blank Murphy (no that too obvious - we will call him Darragh Blank!), when asked what instrument he was playing by a yanky tourist said it was the "Irish skin flute and sack" and the woman continued to boast amongst the whine of Americans in the bar about her knowledge of the "Irish skin flute and sack".
"Slagging" ?! :-/
"Slagging" ?!
What is it? Is it part of your experience? ~ part of your 'tradition'? Have you been on the recieving end? Have you delivered as you get? Would you consider it as a part of any aspect of 'tradition', and if so, in what flavours? Have you known it to take that step too far? And what about collateral damage, when some poor 'beginner' or 'inexperienced' soul gets caught in the crossfire? ~ As I have seen happen, and have been left to try and pick up the pieces at times...
)
This has me on edge and nervous, just knowing I'm setting myself up for a roasting, for which I may be long overdo and deserving... I'm adding this in part to make restitution to 'Welshman', after asking him if he wasn't experienced with this practice, or was he one of the lucky few living in a sheltered vale somewhere in the hills of Cymru/Wales. (I have had the benefit of that for a time...) It is also in part the result several of us getting locked in a corner with one 'portnabpucai' over the weekend, and seemingly no escape... It made me 'reconsider' my assumptions, which is always a good thing.
I had to ask myself where I first came across this phenomena. It was after I moved to Dublin. But how much was it actually a part of my life there? I had a good think and I have to say ~ not much. I did experience it in a few situations, including dance, but even there it wasn't constant. I considered all the venues I'd found myself in over time, and most of them were free of it, including, I have to say, all the regular sessions I attended. I actually think I had more teasing on the dance floor than in a session, and never in a house gathering of any sort. Come to think of it, the slagging on the dance floor was by people who are also musicians, as they gave out to each other in musical settings too. As far as who participated in those few experiences, speaking in general again, my experience of it, it tended to most often between people who knew each other, friends...
So, not much in Dublin, even if it was my first burning... On a wider consideration, I've come across it more outside of Eire than in, out in the wider world. There did tend to be a representative number hailing from the cities of Eire in these cases though. On deeper reflection, I've never had it in the countryside in Eire that I can recollect, except where the locals were outnumbered by 'tourists' from Dublin and the larger urban connerbations ~ and as said previously, I never came across it in a house or kitchen, where I only ever found courtesy, welcome and consideration ~ and more innocent humour.
There are times I've felt the burn deep, and really hurt, but kept it shtrum, and I've seen the hurt in others and felt for them. I've also seen those that seem to get a great pleasure out of looking for the softest part of a person to make the deepest dig, the most painful cut, to get the greatest reaction. I've seen it escalate and become nasty too, and scary. That has happened here on site, but I have to say, only occassionally. But I don't want to analyze it that much to give out percentages in that regard.
I have used it inappropriately, or it has used me as it sometimes feel, where I've been tactless, inconsiderate, far from diplomatic... I'm glad that is infrequent. I don't tend to do it for spite, such as out of a reaction of hurt, and I always regret it if I let slip in that way. I only 'tease', in any sense of that, people I like. Overstepping has happened when I forget the understanding I have that some folks don't take well to teasing or any form of percieved criticism. I prefer to respect those limitations and to not wind those up who are unable to take it. But as said, there are times my wife has had to give me a good kick or leave a bruise on my arm, or bruise me with her stare... There are times I act on instinct, which isn't always connected to the situation. Mostly my teasing has been playful and even complimentary. A place to be wary of such things would be here, where we mostly do not know each other well, and can assume too much, or react too readily with bite...
Here's the formal definitions and origins:
slag / slagging ~
Collins: British, Australia, New Zealand ~ slang, often followed by 'off', to criticize in an unpleasant way.
Oxford: ~ criticize (someone) in an abusive and insulting manner.
ORIGIN: mid 16th Century ~ from Middle Low German 'slagge', perhaps from 'slagen' "strike", with reference to fragments formed by hammering. The verb sense 'criticize' dates from the 1970s. (When I moved to Dublin! ~
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Generally you only slag your buddies in front of your buddies and never outside the group. If you know a group of fellas a long time then 'tis an acceptable form of fun. The general rule of thumb re slagging is don't give it out if you can't take it.
There is also a fine line between insulting and slagging. Also some fellas are better than it than others, if you don't want to come a cropper in don't start a slag you know you'll be beat in.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Dow is really good at slagging. In fact he's the 2nd best slagger on this site.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Yer ma's yer da and yer da's yer ma!
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Harry B
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Yer wha?
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Don't start a sneezin' fit HB...
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Sound like very liberated parents to me. Hardly to be slagged in this day and age.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: "Slagging" ?!
They did both wear uninforms at different times in their lives...
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
who is the best slagger? can't really think of anyone obvious apart from maybe the lad Dow
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: "Slagging" ?!
(that was a veiled reference to me! - but I was just joking really.)
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Kevin Burke...and sly too...
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
i know ! I was only slagging ya
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Is it always the quiet spoke we should fear the most?
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Alright, punctuating work with this, what's the funniest bit of slagging you've ever heard?
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
seachann an duine a bhionn in a thost- beware the quiet fella
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Possibly the best slagging I ever heard was when a Belfast friend of mine started referring to an unsettling Dutch chap as 'eejityhooks McGinty'. Although this is probably more towards the 'Shock and Awe' end of the Slag-o-meter.
Slagging is not an institution as it is sometimes claimed in The North: its an Art form and should be practiced with all the subtlety, inspiration, freedom and silliness of an Art form.
I was sitting in a session in Milltown with some mere mortal people and some famous people, Alec Finn being one of them. Within the space of 15 minutes a second concertina player joined the session, then another, then another... after a short period of uncanny farmyard type sounds Finn moved to put the bozouki back in its case remarking- "This session is starting to sound like a f**king rusty bicycle".
Regards,
Harry.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Harry B
Re: "Slagging" ?!
When the board quite rightly says 'eejityhooks' on my behalf it of course means 'countyhooks' without the first 'o'.
Regards,
H.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Harry B
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Best one I heard was a repost by Mike Harding who was being heckled quite rudely by a barman (who was used to being the centre of attention). He said "Listen mate, if it's a battle of wits you want, I don't fight with unarmed men!"
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Rhod
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Then again, maybe that's not slagging..?
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Rhod
Re: "Slagging" ?!
sounds like a good slag to me
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: "Slagging" ?!
;/
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: "Slagging" ?!
TommyB has it ... 'If you know a group of fellas a long time then 'tis an acceptable form of fun. The general rule of thumb re slagging is don't give it out if you can't take it'
so it's kinda impossible to describe a good slag as you have to be there in the moment and know the people well.
Otherwise it's just rudeness and there's plenty of that here betimes.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: "Slagging" ?!
A bodhrán playing friend of mine is probably the most tenacious slagger I've ever met. He once got into a slagging match with a flute player (who shall remain nameless) ; the fluter seemed to have gained the upper hand but my mate swore he'd get him back.
Months later he got his chance; the fluter was staying over in his house. He'd had a skinful to drink and, during the course of the night's slumber, had a small accident of the "number 2" variety in the spare bed.
Of course my mate set to work photographing the evidence and creating numerous photocopies - which were later plastered all over the walls of the pub where both were due to play a session one evening.
For a long time after that, the offending fluter was nicknamed "sh!t-the-bed"
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Conán McDonnell
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Conan, you promised you'd never tell!
(Joking honest!)
I've only ever peed the bed once (as an adult), and I was scuttered that night. we'd just won BUSF cross country.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: "Slagging" ?!
"You left your good fiddle at home did you?"
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Here, let me see that, I think there's some shight in your flute." ~ delivered with a wry smile of course...
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
I have no idea what "slagging is". That's what comes from being open, honest, and serious at all times.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Landlord: "How old is that fiddle you're playing?"
Fiddler: " oooh, Its a German one, about 150 yrs old etc etc"
Landlord: Isn't it about time it had a f**king rest?
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by de Selby
Re: "Slagging" ?!
BB, when it comes naturally I guess you get to the point where you just don't realize it's happening... It's like pickin' your nose when you're driving, and I wish you would stop that habit...and rolling it up into balls and tossin' it in the back...
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
I admit to being "twisted" which is different. Took years of practice to reach this level.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Slagging is a friendly conversational sports activity.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Once read an article that tried to explain why we slag our friends what are the rules of it etc. My good friends and I give eachother hell all the time. I expect that at times stranger must wonder if we don't hate eachother. The problem with translating it to the internets is that you lose all the subtle signs of a tease: facial cues, tone of voice. Also, sometimes you think you are closer to someone online than they do and an intended ribbing becomes an insult.
Whenever I slag a friend online there is a brief instant of panic as I hit send: "will this turn into a fight?"
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by matan_fiddler
Re: "Slagging" ?!
I only come on here for the fights.
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Why isn't there a CEE All Ireland category for slaggin? If you can win an All Ireland title for lilting and miscelaneous accompaniment and bollix like that, I say that slagging deserves it's own All Ireland Championship as well! Who's with me?
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by de Selby
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Here, here matan_fiddler, BB and de Selby ~ let's petition for an All-Ireland Slagging match and title... I'd pay to watch or sit in on the finals... As has been said previously, it is a 'fine art'...
# Posted on April 30th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Haha i think the question round here is who DOESN'T slag?
# Posted on May 1st 2007 by Stíofán
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Acoustic rocker on stage in club get's heckled, undeservedly.
She pauses, looks at the heckler in the crowd and responds: "Ya...I remember my first beer too".
# Posted on May 1st 2007 by saltcast
Re: "Slagging" ?!
slagging is when all parties are enjoying themselves, when the slaggee is hurt and insulted its no longer slagging, its abuse.
# Posted on May 2nd 2007 by Joze
Re: "Slagging" ?!
Desi Adam's, flute, Belfast - Undefeated Slagging Champion of the World - Heavy Weight.
Americans are great slagging fodder - fair game - hardly an ounce of irony between them.
An uilleann piper friend of mine who we will call for now Blank Murphy (no that too obvious - we will call him Darragh Blank!), when asked what instrument he was playing by a yanky tourist said it was the "Irish skin flute and sack" and the woman continued to boast amongst the whine of Americans in the bar about her knowledge of the "Irish skin flute and sack".
# Posted on May 2nd 2007 by iwerzon