Alanis Morissette wrote a whole song about things she thought were ironic when they were just kind of annoying - a bit like the song that's now in your head.

Although comedian Wil Anderson points out that calling a song Ironic and then having no ironic examples in it is actually pretty ironic. But I digress.

There are many types of irony used as a literary device but the basic definition is when the literal meaning is the opposite of the intended meaning.

Hands Off the Gorge protesters must have been using a little ironic poetic licence when they gathered to decry plans for a gondola in the Gorge.

I imagine the meeting went something like this: organisers fire up the crowd about the potential for a proposed gondola to ruin the Gorge.

People are in furious agreement at the anti-development rhetoric and the speaker invites some audience interaction.

"What has development in the Gorge ever given us?"

For a moment there is silence, then from up the back a man in a crocheted vest says, "Umm, hydroelectricity from the Duck Reach Power Station?"

"Well, yes, hydroelectric power is one thing," the speaker replies.

A woman sipping a weak decafe soy latte from the cafe, she brought her own cup, obviously, pipes up: "The beautiful Victorian gardens and rotunda."

A murmur ripples through the crowd.

"Well, yes, hydroelectric power and the gardens are two things," the speaker replies. "But apart from those, what else has development of the Gorge ever done for Launceston??!!"

Silence. For a moment.

"The pathways?" Offers an elderly gentleman who walked from Kings Bridge - it's much easier with the smooth path, good lighting and fencing than the Zig Zag, even though that has handrails, a lovely lookout and strategically placed rocks for steps.

"Well obviously the bloody walkways," the speaker thunders. "How else would we get 'ere if there wasn't walkways."

A child scratches his hair beneath his llama wool beanie and squeaks: "The new playground. It's really cool. I like the hamster wheel and slide the best."

The speaker's face goes aubergine. "Yes, yes, the playground is fantastic and we all love the hamster wheel, BUT, apart from the hydroelectric power, gardens, pathways and playgrounds, what has development in the Gorge ever given us???!!!"

"The chairlift is pretty nice," says one person who has just wandered into the crowd thinking it was a tour group. "Did you know it's the longest single span in the southern hemisphere?"

"We're here to stop chairlifts," the speaker screams. "They're ruining the pristine wilderness!"

"Well I don't know if it's pristine," mutters one man sheepishly.

"What?"

Silence.

"So, apart from hydroelectric power, gardens, pathways, playgrounds and ..." he's interrupted as tourists smile and wave from overhead, "chairlifts", he grimaces, "what has development in the Gorge ever given Launceston????!!!!"

"Change rooms," says someone.

"The barbecue areas," says another.

"The restaurant, not this new one but the old one in the middle of the Victorian garden and rotunda with the toilets."

"Don't forget the suspension bridge you walk across to get there. It was built in 1904, you know."

"Or the causeway or carpark, it's a nice walk down the Maple Steps."

The inclinator," says another. "Yeah, the inclinator is great for access, particularly for those with small children, or the elderly or disabled," someone else replies.

The man drops the microphone, strips naked and wades into the pool.

"Oh, the pool," someone yells after him. "Don't forget the pool!"

The crowd slowly disperses, some stopping to admire the caretaker's cottage, others the artist's residence and old toll booth where people paid to enter the Gorge.

"Ka-kaaah," a peacock cries out from the playground at the Fairy Dell.

With apologies and thanks to Monty Python.

And, like Monty Python, this column is purely satire and not meant to diminish people's concerns.

Just because there is already development in the Gorge, doesn't mean it should be carte blanche for future development.

We should, of course, be open to arguments both for and against.