GARETH VAN ONSELEN: The death of the insult
It makes sense that we cannot insult with any flair or sophistication as we cannot argue with meaning or conviction either
05 June 2019 - 05:44
A good insult should achieve three things. First, it should disparage; that is, leave its intended target smarting. Second, to do this, it needs to have some element of truth to it; for always it is the truth that bites hardest. Third, it should be memorable; in time, the best insults become templates, to be appropriated for future use.
Within these parameters, there is much fun to be had. Innuendo and wit together can be devastating enough. Combine those things with an original metaphor, infuse just enough truth to resonate, and they can come to define someone for life...
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