Oscar Wilde was born on this day in 1854. The Irish author and playwright is known for classic works like The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest, which were filled with brilliant, pithy one-liners such as “To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
But despite Mr. Wilde’s many literary successes, Twitter marked the occasion of his birthday by lamenting that he may have been born in the wrong era. Indeed, the author’s succinct style seemed for many ideally suited to the age of Twitter. Many users fantasized (some bilingually) about how Mr. Wilde might have embraced social media:
Happy birthday to the genius that was Oscar Wilde. If only he were alive today. He'd be ace at Twitter.
— Joshua Zitser (@mrjoshz) October 16, 2015
Oscar Wilde was born on this day in 1854. Twitter may never reach his level of humor, but at least it already comes close to his narcissism.
— the dead author (@thedeadauthor) October 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/clockwards/status/655001972353822721
I've said it before, I'll say it again: Oscar Wilde would have had the best Twitter account.
— George O'Connor (@GeorgetheMighty) October 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/DoctorAtlantis/status/655026896200146944
Oscar Wilde, el twittero sin twitter más famoso del mundo.
— Eduardo Salles (@sallesino) October 16, 2015
Some users removed the middleman and made up quotes Mr. Wilde would have said about Twitter were he alive:
"The only thing worse than being misquoted on Twitter is not being quoted on Twitter" Oscar Wilde (Born 161 years ago today).
— Dan Allen (@Persixty) October 16, 2015
Whoever this Oscar Wilde person is he's blatantly stealing all his material from Twitter.
— paul bassett davies (@thewritertype) October 16, 2015
And at least one user rose above the cynicism to see a silver lining:
It is Oscar Wilde's birthday, and he is trending on Twitter. Maybe there is hope for humanity after all.
— Your Comic Muse (@YourComicMuse) October 16, 2015
Even after 161 years, Oscar still gives the world something to go Wilde about.
