Pun Intended

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I'm hoping I'll find an appropriate pun to add to this post, but if I don't, I'll leave this first sentence.

I'm writing about one of my internet/writing pet peeves. To me, it makes perfect sense when someone is talking and they suddenly realize they've made a pun that they would then say, "Pun not intended." I have no problem with that, although to be honest, I myself usually avoid such a cliched version and am more natural: I usually say "Whoops! I didn't mean to pun there."

On the other hand, unless you are in a speed contest of some kind and thus, simply don't have time to review what you've written, writing, whether on the internet or not, should be intentional. So, if you have a pun that is NOT intended, you should simply remove it.

When I'm reading something and see "Pun not intended," my initial reaction is to first think you just like cliches. Then, I think you're not very original. After that, I think, "Yes, it was intended, or you would have erased it," which means that I then think you're stupid or lazy, and probably both. Finally, after all of that, I usually realize that you're embarrassed about what might be a dumb pun but still want the accolades in the case that it's a good pun, so then I think you're a coward for not standing behind your own language/opinion. That of course, also makes you slightly dishonest, for not being clear on whether you intended the pun or not.

So, if you want to be thought of as an unoriginal, stupid, lazy, dishonest coward, go ahead and continue "not intending" the puns you publish in writing.

 

wow. great thought process there. very provoking in making a person think about how they type. I love it.

 

I'm tempted to insert some type of "no pun intended" comment here just to be a smartass. But I get your point.

I can think of one exception - if you're writing in real time, like a chat room or messaging service.

 

Gaear, yes, I agree about that, too.