We're always being told Americans have no sense of irony but most I've met in real life or on the Mudcat seem to have good irony detection systems. My (English) boss takes everything literally so I can't be flip or jokey in meetings anymore.
When in doubt, 'Catters, assume anything in my tedious threads is probably ironic or intended to be "amusing" and not to offend.
RtS (Where's the irony? On the ironing boardy).