Use of "sad" in British English

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Default User - 15 Jan 2004 19:21 GMT

I read an on-line comic by British cartoonist John Allison:

http://scarygoround.com/

He sometimes uses the word "sad" where my American sensibilities would
expect "angry or "upset" (I know "mad" wouldn't be likely in the
context). I was curious if this was a Britishism, or a person quirk of
his.

A couple of examples:

1. A character commenting on where another one lives, "that's the place
where they rob you, then shoot you so you won't feel sad."

2. After Allison changed the style of the artwork, he had a note saying
there was a good reason, don't email him about it, "I did not intend to
make anyone sad."

Brian Rodenborn

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Arfur Million - 15 Jan 2004 20:45 GMT

> I read an on-line comic by British cartoonist John Allison:
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> 1. A character commenting on where another one lives, "that's the place
> where they rob you, then shoot you so you won't feel sad."

As a speaker of British English, I would guess that this is just a joke
about the place - ie you'd be so sad living there that shooting you would
put you out of your misery.

> 2. After Allison changed the style of the artwork, he had a note saying
> there was a good reason, don't email him about it, "I did not intend to
> make anyone sad."

I'm not at all sure about this one, it may be a comment on the character of
the person whose work has been changed, or on Allison's attitude to that
person.

> Brian Rodenborn

Arfur

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Default User - 15 Jan 2004 21:29 GMT

> As a speaker of British English, I would guess that this is just a joke
> about the place - ie you'd be so sad living there that shooting you would
> put you out of your misery.

I thought that was probably the case, but I wasn't sure. As I said, a
personal quirk is always possible.

> > 2. After Allison changed the style of the artwork, he had a note saying
> > there was a good reason, don't email him about it, "I did not intend to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the person whose work has been changed, or on Allison's attitude to that
> person.

Well, it's his own work. He changed the way he draws the characters'
heads (which to me makes the look large and too round). Apparently he
was getting complaints, although looking at the forum, a lot of people
like it too.

Brian Rodenborn

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Andy Dingley - 16 Jan 2004 19:38 GMT

>I read an on-line comic by British cartoonist John Allison:
>http://scarygoround.com/

It's great isn't it. I only found it a couple of days ago,

"West Yorkshire Anti-Zombie Unit" is so much funnier for being the
_West_ YAZU, in a way that's totally untranslatable, without going
into a whole subculture of clogs and Mission gigs.

If you care to grok this, read Joolz' "Stone Baby", an excellent novel
from a great poet
<http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0006514138/codesmiths>

>He sometimes uses the word "sad" where my American sensibilities would
>expect "angry or "upset"

I was about to explain the common English meaning of "sad" (which is
widespread and idiosyncratic), except that I don't think he's using it
that way.

"Sad" has followed "gay". It still has the original meaning, but the
replacement meaning has almost entirely replaced it. "Sad" these days
is an adjective applied to anoraks; people who spend all night on
Usenet instead of meeting real people.

>1. A character commenting on where another one lives, "that's the place
>where they rob you, then shoot you so you won't feel sad."

Being robbed would sadden you.

>2. After Allison changed the style of the artwork, he had a note saying
>there was a good reason, don't email him about it, "I did not intend to
>make anyone sad."

You would be made unhappy by this.

Neither is his snappiest dialogue, to be sure.

--
Socialism: Eric, not Tony

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Default User - 16 Jan 2004 22:08 GMT

> >I read an on-line comic by British cartoonist John Allison:
> >http://scarygoround.com/
>
> It's great isn't it. I only found it a couple of days ago,

Yeah, it's one of the better webcomics.

> >1. A character commenting on where another one lives, "that's the place
> >where they rob you, then shoot you so you won't feel sad."
>
> Being robbed would sadden you.

I'd likely be more angry or frightened than sad. Sad for a burlary
perhaps.

> >2. After Allison changed the style of the artwork, he had a note saying
> >there was a good reason, don't email him about it, "I did not intend to
> >make anyone sad."
>
> You would be made unhappy by this.

But not sad, as in depressed and tearful. More like annoyed. Not, "how
could he do this to me, my life has no meaning." More like, "What the
hell, look at the size of the heads on girls now! That sucks."

> Neither is his snappiest dialogue, to be sure.

Then again, I remembered both of them.

Brian Rodenborn

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

Use of "sad" in British English