Sarcasm

[Jezebel]

Do you use sarcasm much? What do you think of this article on sarcasm from Psychology Today?

So why do wisecrackers keep their bons mots coming at the risk of alienating others? Though they may not be aware of it, sarcasm is their means of indirectly expressing aggression toward others and insecurity about themselves. Wrapping their thoughts in a joke shields them from the vulnerability that comes with directly putting one's opinions out there. . .

"People who use sarcasm don't see themselves as being hurtful, they see themselves as being funny," Katz says. "But recipients tend to interpret their remarks as hurtful.". . .

Subjects who scored high on aggression tests showed different patterns of brain activity in response to sarcasm than those who did not. The differences suggest that the aggressive subjects were processing nonliteral meaning more quickly. "Sarcasm is definitely a dominance thing—it's related to being top dog," Katz says, both for initiators of sarcastic banter and those who catch on and offer a retort.

~Article from Psychology Today (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

[celesul]

I am not very sarcastic at all. However, as my 8th grade English teacher constantly told us, sarcasm is not used with a good intention. What many of us call sarcasm is actually irony. I don't intend to hurt people with my irony, so it is not sarcasm. Usually. I mainly just rely on whatever comment seems too good to resist at the moment. *;D

[ehares]

No, I never use sarcasm. *::)

[Tarrick]

Apathy is my Shield and Sarcasm is my Sword! Seriously. :P

I generally use sarcasm (though yes, irony is very much more common) for one thing: Fun verbal sniping with my friends (who are also rational). Seriously, its great fun! I can sometimes let things slip when people are pushing my buttons, but they get what they order. [smiley=wiseguy.gif]

[tundra]

Hmm...

I think I'd agree with the article.

Sarcasm is quite the mechanism to imply potentially hurtful expressions...works well if you word it right. Otherwise people just "don't get it" or take it as a hostility.

For me sarcasm often goes bad (I'm not good with jokes), so I just shut up.

Indifference always works. ;)

[Evalis]

Damnit Tarrick.. you stole my reply >.<

And I disagree with the article. I have rarely, if ever, used sarcasm for anything besides humour. Typically it is successful in getting the subject of it to laugh with me. For example.. if someone was to comment on whether or not it might be a good idea to go bungy jumping.. I would give them a dramatic pause, before responding with: That, my friend, is an excellent idea. I was planning on doing that myself, right after I strapped myself to a moving vehicle. Wee!

I will then typically wait in silence until they laugh, hit me, and/or tell me to shut up. If they do not for some reason understand, then I will inform them, that no, I do not think it is a good idea.

Just an example here.. Actually.. I have only ever 'read' about one example in which sarcasm was used as hostility.. it was some guy making insulting comments that went above his family's heads.. which as far as I'm concerned, is pointless. If I'm going to insult someone, I damn well want them to understand it. ... What examples does the article provide as sarcasm being hostile? I sense it was just written by someone that was dumb, that didn't like the fact they couldn't understand all these really cool jokes. ^^

[Evalis]

Just as an aside:

"You go and do something spectacular (most likely, you're doing your JOB) and someone says, 'Why golly, that was spectacular.' Then they bring you chocolate and some balloons,"

HAHAHAAHAHAHAH ^^

[Evalis]

"One time, this other mother was talking about how her kid's illness was being transmitted to the rest of the family. I said, 'Well, that's why I refuse to give my kids any kind of physical affection when they're sick. I just lock them in a room.'

How can you NOT find that funny?!

[tundra]

ATo view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ;)

[radioactivez0r]

I think mostly I just overdo it. Smartass quips just come to mind so fast, and for some reason I feel the need to speak them. Most people learn to ignore it for the most part; some enjoy it; and there was one person, one, who actually said it was mean. I've never been sarcastic to avoid saying something mean (whereby I simply implied it, or something)...I'm just a smartass.

And for the record, I think PT is trash. That's the magazine that had an article about a Harvard study which stated that men prefer to look at attractive women.

[Opti]

I am terribly sarcastic and think I am funny with it, but thinking back on some of my comments they really werent so nice :-X

[Evalis]

And here I thought men liked to play with their my little pony dolls while watching O'Donnell. Good thing they did that survey!

[Tarrick]

Indeed Evalis! I was absolutely sure that little boys were being socially in today's age by playing with their sister's toys!

[Aleph-One]

I wouldn't wipe my dog's keester with "Psychology Today". It's usually just a lot of emotive self-congratulation on the part of the author. :thumbsdown:

Most people who can effectively deploy sarcasm know what it is and how scathing it is. That's why Mark Twain and Jon Stewart are the best at what they do. It isn't because they're hurting, or scared, or don't want to open up -- it's because they want to pour scathing hot vitriol over their political opponents in a way that doesn't make them look angry.

[OneBadMother]

Simply put, sarcasm is a means of asserting dominance, wielding your creativity and intelligence as a weapon rather than fists. It doesn't necessarily stem from aggression, though aggression could be channeled through it.

[Apococlock]

I can flip my sarcasm switch on whenever I feel it's necessary, but for the most part I don't use sarcasm.

I'm not sure I entirely agree with the article, in that I use it generally as a defense mechanism. Usually I will be sarcastic if people are trying to tell me something I obviously should already know.

"Fire is hot"
"Wow, seriously? I was not aware!"

It isn't trying to prove superiority as much as it is to show that you aren't an idiot in a more effective way.

"Yeah I know" doesn't prevent people from telling you stupid things in the future for the most part.

[Evalis]

Simply put, sarcasm is a means of asserting dominance, wielding your creativity and intelligence as a weapon rather than fists. It doesn't necessarily stem from aggression, though aggression could be channeled through it.

Please explain how you have managed to come to this conclusion. (Note that you may be required to refute how sarcasm could often simply be used as a medium of humour)

[Tarrick]

Evalis, sarcasm is never humorous. It's very serious business...>.>

That and I'm while I can see how it's used to assert dominance, I liken it more to a countering weapon. A defensive/counter-attack technique devised by the ancient sages to fight in the ring of philosophical combat! That's why whenever you fight someone (especially a Rational) in this Ring of Combat, you must make all your frontal attacks with flawless logic, reason and panache else you will be shredded to pieces!

Or something like that.

[Apococlock]

Evalis, sarcasm is never humorous. It's very serious business...>.>

That and I'm while I can see how it's used to assert dominance, I liken it more to a countering weapon. A defensive/counter-attack technique devised by the ancient sages to fight in the ring of philosophical combat! That's why whenever you fight someone (especially a Rational) in this Ring of Combat, you must make all your frontal attacks with flawless logic, reason and panache else you will be shredded to pieces!

Or something like that.

My thoughts exactly! Word for word no less!

[OneBadMother]

Simply put, sarcasm is a means of asserting dominance, wielding your creativity and intelligence as a weapon rather than fists. It doesn't necessarily stem from aggression, though aggression could be channeled through it.

Please explain how you have managed to come to this conclusion. (Note that you may be required to refute how sarcasm could often simply be used as a medium of humour)


Experience and observation? It could be a medium of humor, but sarcasm is generally not self-depreciating, but depreciating of others. It's putting other people or things down, which is why some people are insulted and others take it in stride. Putting other people or things down is an assertion of dominance because it indicates that you're better than them, or at least think you are.

Though, I do agree also with dominance as a countering weapon. Like an epee! Parry and attack in the same blow.

[Evalis]

Evalis, sarcasm is never humorous. It's very serious business...>.>

That and I'm while I can see how it's used to assert dominance, I liken it more to a countering weapon. A defensive/counter-attack technique devised by the ancient sages to fight in the ring of philosophical combat! That's why whenever you fight someone (especially a Rational) in this Ring of Combat, you must make all your frontal attacks with flawless logic, reason and panache else you will be shredded to pieces!

Or something like that.

I still fail to see this. (Your explanation was circular by the way - you used the notion that sarcasm was not humorous and used to assert dominance... by indicating that it was not humourous, and used to assert a certain 'type' of dominance) >.>

Let me make the assessment easier here.... Let's say someone asks me the following: "Hey man, what are you up to today?" - I have two options here (assumiing that I do indeed want to repond). I can either tell him: "I am doing nothing important" or I can tell him "I'm about to rape a tribe of angry kangeroos and train their mutant offspring in an ancient kangerfoo fighting style as an elite battle unit in my plan for world dominance! Then I plan to eat some tacos."

Either of these responses is going to have exactly the same effect. Except that one of them is potentially funny, and they other is not. Apparently there are persons here that share a different perspective. Please explain how the above could 'never be humours' and an assertion of dominance.

[Tarrick]

Do you take sick sick pleasure in making outrageous statements that obvious fly over peoples heads? Do you think its funny when you drive burning words of utter nonsense in the ears of the unsuspecting masses? Do you think it's amusing to making comments that could potential crush the weak mini egos of those less mentally agile than yourself?

Okay.

And, by the way, the response would not be the same because the two available inputs are not of equal value. One is a plain truthful answer. The other one is when you are informing the inquisitor that you not doing anything important.

[Guido]

I wouldn't consider it malicious, but I usually try and make comments that fly over peoples heads :D The people that pick them up are the interesting ones.

[Evalis]

Do you take sick sick pleasure in making outrageous statements that obvious fly over peoples heads? Do you think its funny when you drive burning words of utter nonsense in the ears of the unsuspecting masses? Do you think it's amusing to making comments that could potential crush the weak mini egos of those less mentally agile than yourself?

Never have I said or indicated this.. indeed, I indicated exactly the opposite (I prepared for this reponse prior to anyone making it =D). Note that I commented that that either one of the two responses would have 'the same effect' Essentially meaning that I am already assuming that the other person is INTELLIGENT enough to understand. The purpose of the statement was for the ears of those that would find the information useful.. and humorous at the same time. If for some reason they gave me a 'deer in the headlights' look.. I would simply provide them with answer #1.

[Tarrick]

Well, you know that they say: It's all fun and games until someone gives you the deer-in-the-headlights look.

[Guido]

I was at a party once, and was talking to this random girl I'd never met before. I hate small talk, I mean I really hate it. So I'll often deliver some kind of dick comment with a smile on my face to get the ball rolling hahaha. At least it breaks away from 'what school did you go to? what are your hobbies? do you like cheese?'

So she tells me she's doing a major in geography at Concordia. And I'm a little drunk at this point (which I guess isn't really an excuse even though I'm presenting it as one) and I ask her 'so you just pretend to go to school then?'. She was just like 'yeah...' and walked off. I felt pretty bad because I didn't mean to upset her... but what are you going to do. That's probably the worst dick comment I've made to someone in a joking context :-X I've been a lot more careful since then... cause I should probably be a little more considerate to those F types out there.

[Tarrick]

I find it much easier, and at least as effective, to make a comment about myself rather then them. If someone were to ask me some inane question, my reply could be along the lines of "Yes, yes but only under certain circumstances. Like when I'm leading an Army of Penguins to invade the Yukon and steal all the gold from the Canadian Meese."
"But that's not even realistic!"
"So you think. But that's what the Mongols thought too."

Well...maybe it would have more context. But an Army of Penguins is usually good enough to fend normal people off.

[The Rose]

I LOVE sarcasm.
It's my favorite kind of humor!
That's why I used to watch M*A*S*H all the time!

I DON'T care for sarcastic criticism though.
That's not nice.

[Tarrick]

Sarcasm is like playing ball: Sometimes you play Catch, sometimes you play Dodgeball.

[The Rose]

I was at a party once, and was talking to this random girl I'd never met before. I hate small talk, I mean I really hate it. So I'll often deliver some kind of dick comment with a smile on my face to get the ball rolling hahaha. At least it breaks away from 'what school did you go to? what are your hobbies? do you like cheese?'

So she tells me she's doing a major in geography at Concordia. And I'm a little drunk at this point (which I guess isn't really an excuse even though I'm presenting it as one) and I ask her 'so you just pretend to go to school then?'. She was just like 'yeah...' and walked off. I felt pretty bad because I didn't mean to upset her... but what are you going to do. That's probably the worst dick comment I've made to someone in a joking context :-X I've been a lot more careful since then... cause I should probably be a little more considerate to those F types out there.probably right :)

[Firelie]

Yeeeeah...it's usually better to consider your audience before letting fly with some sarcastic comments. *There's a fine line between being hilarious and being an asshole.

[Tarrick]

Yeeeeah...it's usually better to consider your audience before letting fly with some sarcastic comments. There's a fine line between being hilarious and being an asshole.

Very true. I know where I can do it and where I can't (well, shouldn't).

[StJimmy]

The wonderful thing about sarcasm is that it has so many uses, not unlike that one certain word in the English language. Sarcasm can be a riposte,

I was a smartassed little brat of a kid, and had a hard time with teachers not being able to control me. I learned to moderate it, and now only really break it out on special occasions for overly deserving individuals.

At least here I know that I probably won't hurt anyone's "feelings." :thumbsup:

[Tarrick]

You had better be careful Jimmy! You manage to dent the ironclad shell of anyone here and you may end up sleeping with the fishes!


On a tangent, has anyone heard this before: "There are people in this world that are intolerant of other people....and I hate those kind of people."
I laughed hard when I heard it.

[Apococlock]

On a tangent, has anyone heard this before: "There are people in this world that are intolerant of other people....and I hate those kind of people."


HAH!

Clever clever...



I like using sarcasm in a light hearted, joking context most of the time. It's only on rare occasions that I'll use it as a metaphorical blade to rip the morale of my enemies in twain.

I find I'm most sarcastic around my girlfriend though, or around women in general who state the obvious. I'm one of those people who sees something obvious, and says nothing about it because, well, it's obvious. So when anyone else points it out, the sarcastic demon of a man emerges from within me and the remarks begin.

Usually it's hilarious though according to others, so I'm not too worried.

[Tarrick]

or around women in general who state the obvious.

Same here, but...

Oh don't get me started on those girls that use the work "like" similar to the way the rest of us use spacing in our sentences.

[StJimmy]

wow i posted that last bit without even finishing my thoughts. oh well.

think i'll drop the pretense of capitalization here as well, i always start out on message boards trying to be conscious of it, but i always revert to my lazy ways.

people who say "like" and "uh" alot do tend to annoy me. if they have redeeming qualities i can overlook it.

[Apococlock]

or around women in general who state the obvious.

Same here, but...

Oh don't get me started on those girls that use the work "like" similar to the way the rest of us use spacing in our sentences.


Too late, it has already begun sir!

The worst thing to me isn't even the "likes", it's when a story is told not once, not twice, but several times to me from the same person. It's a huge peeve of mine and I have no shame in expressing that to anyone. Lots of sarcastic remarks come from that as well. I suppose it's very aggravation based.

[Tarrick]

Too late, it has already begun sir!

The worst thing to me isn't even the "likes", it's when a story is told not once, not twice, but several times to me from the same person. It's a huge peeve of mine and I have no shame in expressing that to anyone. Lots of sarcastic remarks come from that as well. I suppose it's very aggravation based.


I have that happen to me too. And by a INTP no less! It can get frikkin annoy, yes.

And I will with very often remark to the use of "like" with: "So it's like that, but not really that."

[Vagaran71]

I think there is also another side to sarcasm, at least from my point of view, and that is the obtuseness of said tool. Many times the most humorous comedies are not the ones that drop the F-bomb all over the place, but rather the ones that cause you to pause and think about why the comment is funny in the first place. Sarcasm makes us ponder what the real intention is (or was by the time most people connect with it). Of course, for those who are not so quick to pick up on it this may seem insulting, thus the pain that is so often associated with it, whether implied or not. But that's also the beauty of it for INTJs; a puzzle to figure out, and the more subtle it is, the more opportunity we have to utilize our inner talents to solve the riddle.

[aude]

I also viewed life as if you ask a dumb question except a dumb response. I use a lot of sarcasm, it just come natural to me. Which is sad in the end. What can you do love me for whom i am or leave me alone :)

[wolf]

What about the classic INTJ comedy routine? The double-entendre game, where you let their minds run through the gutter while you're talking about something entirely different... I often play with people, drawing them into such misunderstandings and laughing at them to myself (sometimes openly, but not usually). Recently in my diet blog I posted a picture of a glass of apple cider without saying what it was, just "today's main drink", then I feigned argumentativeness with some people, and mentioned I didn't feel so well (because I didn't). Everyone jumped to conclusions, of course, which was rather funny to me. Even people that know me well jumped to them, in spite of the fact they should know it's not what they think it is...

Does anyone else do such things?

[aude]

Wolf:
I do that as well. Also i will use cockney slang sometimes to confuse people.

[StJimmy]

that's funny. i like to give yankee tourists a hard time with my southern drawl. then towards the end i'll drop it and start mimicking the way they talk. usually gets a laugh.

i do use sarcasm as a weapon to put people in their place quite often at work. i try to keep it to a minimum with customers but sometimes people just ask for it.

[deicruxified]

Do you use sarcasm much? What do you think of this article on sarcasm from Psychology Today?

So why do wisecrackers keep their bons mots coming at the risk of alienating others? Though they may not be aware of it, sarcasm is their means of indirectly expressing aggression toward others and insecurity about themselves. Wrapping their thoughts in a joke shields them from the vulnerability that comes with directly putting one's opinions out there. . .

"People who use sarcasm don't see themselves as being hurtful, they see themselves as being funny," Katz says. "But recipients tend to interpret their remarks as hurtful.". . .

Subjects who scored high on aggression tests showed different patterns of brain activity in response to sarcasm than those who did not. The differences suggest that the aggressive subjects were processing nonliteral meaning more quickly. "Sarcasm is definitely a dominance thing—it's related to being top dog," Katz says, both for initiators of sarcastic banter and those who catch on and offer a retort.

~Article from Psychology Today (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)
when i mean something, my friends think i'm still sarcastic lol

[INTJohn]

Here again, I'll defer to me experience in Life........

In my obsevations, generally speaking, Sarcasm is theee language of the Intelligent.

INTJohn

[phoenix]

The worst thing to me isn't even the "likes", it's when a story is told not once, not twice, but several times to me from the same person. It's a huge peeve of mine and I have no shame in expressing that to anyone. Lots of sarcastic remarks come from that as well. I suppose it's very aggravation based.


Oh, that was my ex-husband. After 8 years I simply couldn't stand hearing that stupid story (he'd been telling since before I met him) ONE MORE TIME!

The analytical side of me started to wonder...since he hadn't come up with a single NEW story in the years we had been together, do you think the stories he told from before were simply total BS? I think they were....

(phoenix...who uses ellipses like other girls use 'like')

[Epicurus]

Very often on internet forums atleast, I don't use it lightly but only on people who are ignorant enough, and I always put a few wise words after it.

[thegnat]

I like sarcasm. It's great.

The people that don't get it though - those are the ones you have to avoid saying it to - especially the ones that'll take offense to it - or just don't get it - they're no fun anyway.

I once told dad, "oh I LOVE losing" and he thought I was serious. Then I told him about sarcasm and he was like, "When am I supposed to know you're serious or not??!!"

My sarcasm is usually about myself or like as someone said before, pointing out the obvious. "Ice is cold." No really? I didn't know that....

I had a completely sarcastic conversation with someone else the other day that even ended up with both of us bad mouthing sarcasm (though we were both completely sarcastic) and then I said, "Oh, what good is sarcasm?" and they said. "entertainment?" which broke the sarcasm....it's great talking with other people who get sarcasm.

And with people I'm unsure of that don't know it's sarcasm I try and make it obvious.

My intentions are never hurtful though. And they usually aren't about the other person anyway.

[klokpsykl]

. That's probably the worst dick comment I've made to someone in a joking context :-X I've been a lot more careful since then... cause I should probably be a little more considerate to those F types out there.

Pff, no time for pansies. If they can't take it then good. Nothing is lost.

[mind_wander]

I like sarcasm. *It's great.

The people that don't get it though - those are the ones you have to avoid saying it to - especially the ones that'll take offense to it - or just don't get it - they're no fun anyway.

I once told dad, "oh I LOVE losing" and he thought I was serious. *Then I told him about sarcasm and he was like, "When am I supposed to know you're serious or not??!!"

My sarcasm is usually about myself or like as someone said before, pointing out the obvious. *"Ice is cold." *No really? *I didn't know that....

I had a completely sarcastic conversation with someone else the other day that even ended up with both of us bad mouthing sarcasm (though we were both completely sarcastic) and then I said, "Oh, what good is sarcasm?" and they said. "entertainment?" which broke the sarcasm....it's great talking with other people who get sarcasm. *

And with people I'm unsure of that don't know it's sarcasm I try and make it obvious.

My intentions are never hurtful though. *And they usually aren't about the other person anyway.

Yeah, I use sarcasm also. It helps you verbally express [The whole intent is trying to hurt them emotional, but intellectually].

[The Rose]

There is a mean type of sarcasm that I don't like because it does hurt people, but there is a good-humored kind of sarcasm that is more witty and not so hurtful. THAT I enjoy quite a bit. I actually love sarcastic humor as long as it doesn't hurt people's feelings.

[ISeidh]

I can flip my sarcasm switch on whenever I feel it's necessary, but for the most part I don't use sarcasm.

I'm not sure I entirely agree with the article, in that I use it generally as a defense mechanism. Usually I will be sarcastic if people are trying to tell me something I obviously should already know.

"Fire is hot"
"Wow, seriously? I was not aware!"

It isn't trying to prove superiority as much as it is to show that you aren't an idiot in a more effective way.

"Yeah I know" doesn't prevent people from telling you stupid things in the future for the most part.

I think that's when my sarcasm really kicks in - "people are trying to tell me something I obviously should already know" AND when I'm being fed a line of pure bullshit disguised as honesty. My bosses at my last job did NOT appreciate my sarcasm at all, but set themselves up for it constantly, daily. After they told me I should stop being so sarcastic, I did my best to just not say anything or respond with "Okay" or "Sure" to things requiring some response, and that made them more crazy than the sarcasm.

So instead of sarcasm, should I respond to these things by breaking down into tears and wailing "You think I'm stupid! How can you do this to meeeeeee?????" Because tears usually make the other person feel bad and think about what they said, but it's a pain in the ass for ME because it means there's going to be a really long annoying conversation afterwards that I DON'T want to take the time for. And no, I'm not going to do the tears thing - I'll stick to my sarcasm. It works for me.

[Paul V]

I use liberal doses of sarcasm and irony in my daily life. It allows me to be aggressive towards people I'm angry at (usually for being dumb on purpose) without actually provoking a response. I see it as a pressure-releasing valve.

[oceanicon]

sarcasm?
couldn't live without it :P

[thegnat]

Yeah, I use sarcasm also. It helps you verbally express [The whole intent is trying to hurt them emotional, but intellectually].

I don't think it's trying to hurt them intellectually really either. I don't use it to hurt.

I use it to *enlighten*.

[Kevin]

I'm not sure if I can speak aloud without being sarcastic (and no - that's NOT sarcasm). It's how I've learned to cope with shyness, and seems to work to hide my true emotions.

I rarely try to upset people or insult them to their face (never know when you could get some use out of that person in the future!) and just use my sarcasm for humor (definitely with myself having the biggest laugh of all). ;)

Howard Stern once said he always used to watch what he voiced. And then the few occasions he blurted something out, and spoke exactly what was on his mind - people laughed. He started saying the first thing that popped into his head - no matter how inappropriate it might be, and look at where it got him.

How does that apply to us? It doesn't - just thought it was kinda interesting. ;)


Guido said, "but I usually try and make comments that fly over peoples heads :D The people that pick them up are the interesting ones."

That's awesome. :) And I see this myself all the time. I'm sarcastic with new people I meet, and if they get it (better yet - if they can dish it back out) I take an instant liking to them and want to find out more. It really seems the sarcastic people try to stick together. I've had new friends say they had similar senses of humor to myself (or I suppose they can at least "get" *most* of my jokes [some of the other jokes have references way too vague for anyone but myself to pick up]).

It makes sense that you'll get along with someone who has the same sense of humor as yourself though. And these people I certainly do find more "interesting".


Also Guido - the lady you ticked off at the party - how long ago was that night? If you still have the slightest misgivings about it yet (the way you spoke to her), take comfort in the fact that you have long been erased from her mind, yet are still troubled yourself by the brief discomfort you provided her.

Possibly because we do take our time to speak and choose our phrases so carefully - when we blow it - it haunts us forever???


As an aside, in the online world (E-Mail, forums, etc) I see myself always going crazy with the smilies to help convey my sarcasm across to the reader(s). I don't like miscommunications, and even though (in the spoken world) I may lead someone along for a while around the dark trails of my wit, I'll eventually let them in on the joke (or for the "less intelligent" - at least state that I was just kidding). ;)

[niffer]

All the time, but never in a "mean" way...and I always use a natural or exuberant voice to convey it.

[chocky]

I rely on verbal sarcasm to protect me in this world.

Without it I would have been driven insane long ago.

[ThrowerMatt]

Sarcasm is a fantastic thing. Sometimes its the only way I am able to laugh off stupidity throughout the day.

[Zilal]

I consider myself ironic... I definitely define sarcasm as irony with anger behind it, sometimes a habitual way of blowing off steam but often a passive-aggressive attempt to take a shot without getting hurt in return. I try not to do that. I consider it a weakness if I let my anger come out that way. If I'm upset with someone I think I ought to have the guts to tell them honestly or not at all.

I have cut back on even the lighthearted irony over time though... partly because people still take it the wrong way, and partly because it started to seem cowardly after a while too. It's just a little too easy for me to make a wisecrack instead of revealing anything about how I really feel. And once I saw the challenge in exposing my actual views to possible attack, well, it was hard not to want to tackle that.

[Colette]

Yes I agree sarcasm is usually overtly aggressive or passive-aggressive. Its role is essentially to establish your own superiority, and put the other person in their place. If directed at (or about) a thing, or phenomenon, rather than a person, it can be funny, and acceptable.

[Pinkie]

I love sarcasm, but I don't use it to put someone in their place. If I want to do that, I just come straight out and tell them that I think they're a moron. I tend to use sarcasm as a filter, as well. If people don't get it, they're not worth my time, in general.

[Uytuun]

I use sarcasm a lot...on everyone, including myself (though the border with irony is not really well-defined)...instinctively. And I do believe that I use it in order to assert myself, sometimes, which, frankly, I'm not bothered by.

[Antares]

I use sarcasm inadvertently. It just rolls off my tongue, directly from my mind, and sometimes it's offensive to some individuals. I don't use sarcasm to tell off someone and when I'm angry, I'm rarely sarcastic. I'm usually unyielding, stubborn and hurtful. I was told that my tongue cut like knives, because of course, sarcasm is the highest form of wit. (Can you see my eyes rolling?)

When telling jokes, I use sarcasm sometimes, only if it's witty and humorous. Sarcasm can be quite dull if not executed properly. Nowadays, I prefer to use non-sequitur and cynicism as my form of humor. (Bloody hell. This place smells like someone with a skunk shoved up their arse) I exaggerate, create drama and make connections that are plain weird. (Mr. --- is like a swan... Gentle and floppy...)





Camelopardalis added to this post, 8 minutes and 57 seconds later...

Yes I agree sarcasm is usually overtly aggressive or passive-aggressive. Its role is essentially to establish your own superiority, and put the other person in their place. If directed at (or about) a thing, or phenomenon, rather than a person, it can be funny, and acceptable.

I think it can be funny if directed at a person as well, as long as it is controlled, and in that case, it requires caution. I remember my friends jokingly comment: Oh yes. Because you SO know how to ask guys out.

[Danisty]

I use sarcasm all the time and I don't see anything wrong with using it to put someone in their place or to taking a shot without getting hurt in return.

[ElGuyay]

I keep it to a minimum as it usually makes people nervous.

[Wapiti]

I use sarcasm all the time as well. It is a natural part of me that I don't think I could fully stop if I tried. Over the years though I have excersied more restraint than I use to but it is still a big part of who I am.

[Saurus]

If I didn't control myself, I would be a sarcasm machine (I'm very creative on this point)

I agree with Colette :" Its role is essentially to establish your own superiority, and put the other person in their place. "
I use it to control the interaction with the person to whom I'm speaking; to protect my inner world.

[Jkeenan]

I can see where my sarcasm may be alienating. I've lost a girlfriend over it, yet I just couldn't stop.

[Xenolar]

Do you use sarcasm much? What do you think of this article on sarcasm from Psychology Today?



~Article from Psychology Today (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.)

I can be rather ironic at times, but the thing is, people usually don't realize that I am doing so. Conversely, I have a rather hard time picking up irony and sarcasm in the speech and writing of others. Rather odd.

[slp7]

I try to avoid sarcasm, especially in forums like this, because the tone of your voice does not translate to written word and people don't know if you're joking or not. That also happens in real-life conversations, so as much as I like sarcasm, I try to limit it to close friends whom I know are going to understand it. I have kind of a dry sense of humor, and a lot of the times I think things are funny that other people just don't get. So basically, my sense of humor doesn't get used much, except among friends. Sarcasm is passive-aggressive. I prefer to either be passive-passive or aggressive-aggressive. Sarcasm can be good-humored, but often it is a cop out for not having the balls to say what you mean. If you want to insult someone- insult them blatantly. With sarcasm, you can always backpedal and say, "I was just making a joke" but you know you weren't.