Probably many of the folks here have heard this story, but there's no thread about it.
"North Korea bans sarcasm because Kim Jong-un fears people only agree with him 'ironically'" |
Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-bans-sarcasm-kim-jong-un-freedom-speech-a7231461.html)
QuoteNorth Korea has forbidden people from making sarcastic comments about Kim Jong-un or his totalitarian regime in their everyday conversations.
Even indirect criticism of the authoritarian government has been banned, Asian media reported.
Residents were warned against criticising the state in a series of mass meetings held by functionaries across the country.
[. . .]
Officials told people that sarcastic expressions such as "This is all America's fault" would constitute unacceptable criticism of the regime.
[Continues . . . (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-bans-sarcasm-kim-jong-un-freedom-speech-a7231461.html)]
Well sarcasm is an easy thing to ban. It's not difficult at all to detect, it's especially easy to detect sarcasm in text.