Meaning of "taking things literally"

Post Reply New Topic

I used to never realize when other kids were being sarcastic. I remember when I was in ninth grade, a classmate said, "I gave up cigarettes for heroin." The other kids laughed, but I didn't realize it was a joke until years later. I thought they were laughing because it was a stupid thing to do.

Now I can tell when someone's joking like that, but I never get the tone right in my reply. I always respond with something equally sarcastic and then they say, "I wasn't serious!", roll their eyes, and look at me like I'm crazy.

Anyway, I think that "taking thing literally" means taking words and statements at face value instead of considering their symbolic meanings and the tone in which they were expressed.

I have found that it goes both ways--- sometimes someone will say something that really isn't true ( and somehow I'm supposed to know this) and I believe it and reply to their statement as if it were true. They then say "I was being facetious" or " I was joking".
I decided to see if I could trick people around me with statements that were NOT true, but delivered with a straight face ( to see if it was the way a statement was presented). It usually worked--- people would believe me, and then I'd go " Nah, I was only joking.". That part wasn't always warmly welcomed...
So I think many people can be fooled based on what appears to be sincerity on the teller's part.
As far as idioms and figures of speech go--- I've heard many of them over the years and know what they mean. If I hear a new one, I'll ask what it means and possibly use it in the furure.

I don't have issues with figures of speech. My big issue is that I totally suck at getting sarcasm that sounds plausible and is said with a straight face. I also have trouble "reading between the lines" and thus miss "common sense" assumptions hidden in the speech, which causes me to leave something half done because I miss things that are implied by what is said.

My worst experience with this was when they were having a party at work and we were all told to bring a plate - so I did.

I was severely embarrassed when I discovered that "Bring a Plate" meant "Bring one with food on it" - luckily there were shops nearby.

LOL @ gbollard!

I did that once, but with a tray. But I only got halfway there when my mum called me up and asked me why I left the house with just an empty tray. So I was only half of a goose.

A few years ago my neighbour asked me if I'd look after her rabbits while she was on holiday. She showed me the room where they kept the food and bedding, and a jug she'd filled up with water.

We went over to the hutch and she pointed at the water holder and said, "when that starts to run out, put the jug of water in there".

So, when the water in the holder started to run out, I went and got the whole jug of water and put it in the hutch. Lo and behold, within a minute the rabbits had kicked the jug over and the whole hutch was soaking wet. Why oh why didn't the woman jst say "use the jug of water to fill up the water holder". It would have avoided that whole stupid situation. People should be more specific!

is taking things literally means gullible as well? because i get that a lot. my friends told me some things which is obviously false, but i was like, "Really? tell me more". of course, i just stood there looking all stupid like when he said ," i was just kidding man!".

I start to take things more literally when I don't get it. I guess that could be worse. But I always take things literally unless I've already encountered a "joking" situation that's been explained to me previously.

I rarely know if someone is joking or trying to offend me .