Grotesque

1. Characterized by ludicrous or incongruous distortion, as of appearance or manner.

2. Outlandish or bizarre, as in character or appearance.

This is a word that, as has been said, does not mean what you think it means. It does, however, apply to certain corners of the Internet.

It applies, for example, to this site, which purports to collect and report snippets of conversation overheard in New York City. It has a sister site, eavesdropping at the office.

And then there is this corner of cyberspace, where someone has taken the subject lines of spam they have received, and rendered them into haiku.

Would that I could make this stuff up.

Hat tip to #1 Son.