Posted by IsoM on January 9, 2003, at 14:00:59
In reply to Re: Kid A, a politely worded reply.... » kid a, posted by Dinah on January 9, 2003, at 12:47:21
While I've read other's understanding of the meaning of touché to have negative connotations as in scoring a hit (which the dictionary does list as a meaning), I'd like to offer what I automatically think when I hear the word touché.
If two people were fencing with intent to hurt or killeach other, no one would say touché when they scored a hit. Touché is only used with friendly dueling matches that test skill or for sheer enjoyment of the art of fencing.
Because of that, I've always associated it with a friendly game. It's also used after one scores with a witticism. Now perhaps because I only banter with real friends, I again take the term touché to have a friendly connotation. Wit isn't meant to be mean - if it is, then it's sarcasm, not wit. Wit has the meaning of intelligent *humour* often with word play - entirely different to me from sarcastic comments that are rarely intellligent & never honestly humorous.
Does this make sense to any one else? I've only said "touché" to friends, & only friends have said it back to me. After one of us says it, generally the rest crack up in laughter. It's meant as a light hearted fun thing, not to hurt but to cheer up or make one laugh.
What sort of company are "friends" who are sarcastic to each other? If your friends say such comments to you, I'd suggest finding more compatible & loving friends. I wouldn't tolerate it from someone who's supposed to be my friend & would gently tell them so.
poster:IsoM
thread:34859
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030104/msgs/34923.html