Why I hate the Onion

It’s simple: It is a parody that takes itself too seriously.

Sure, the headlines are funny sometimes, but then you start reading the story and you realize that it juuust keeeps goooing.

The reason it does this is because the Onion, for all its attempts otherwise, is fundamentally a mockery of the form of media. This is contrasted with the function and content of media.  The satire of content only follows if time and space allow (and it rarely allows).

Here’s some example headlines:

• Obama Delivers Whispered, Untelevised Speech On Gun Control
• Natalee Holloway, Osama Bin Laden Celebrate 5-Year Wedding Anniversary
• Area Woman Marries Into Health Insurance
• Police Bust Giraffe-Fighting Ring
• U.S. Negotiating Mubarak’s Severance Package
• Illinois Supreme Court Deems Rahm Emanuel Sleazy Enough To Run For Mayor Of Chicago
• Reporter For High School Newspaper Most Professional Journalist In Nation
• Republicans Vote To Repeal Obama-Backed Bill That Would Destroy Asteroid Headed For Earth

They all seem timely and topical, but rather than humorous takes on the issues, the Onion takes the issue as a branching-off point for a crazy and ridiculous version of the real world. Then… they keeeep goooing.

Eventually the humor runs out and you’re left reading a story that’s getting less funny by the word. This is the reason I’m not at all excited about The Onion News Network being picked up as a series.

It’s simple: It is a parody that takes itself too seriously. Sure, the headlines are funny sometimes, but then you start reading the story and you realize that it juuust keeeps goooing. The reason it does this is because the Onion, for all its attempts otherwise, is fundamentally a mockery of the form of media.…