[mind_wander]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

	Originally Posted by mind_wander To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	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).
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


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



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

[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...

	Originally Posted by Colette To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	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]

	Originally Posted by Jezebel To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Do you use sarcasm much? What do you think of this article on sarcasm 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.