If, in reading this, you are uncertain as to whether a specific statement is meant seriously or not, simply apply this rule of thumb: If the statement makes you consider filing a lawsuit, I was kidding. Ha ha!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author provides a rule to distinguish his jokes from serious statements based on legal implications.
- In plain terms
- If a statement sounds like it could get you sued, it is a joke.
- What can you take from it?
- Use obvious consequences to signal humor to the audience.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you signal tone in text?
- What makes a joke obvious?
Another view
Not all readers recognize legal exaggeration as a joke.
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