(by 3 people)
A sarcastic lens.
Sarcasm has many uses and all of them require a certain amount of smarts, timing, and wit. For centuries, perhaps at the very dawn of time when humanity first walked upright (or 200 years ago if you're a literalist Christian) sarcasm has been used to draw attention to the stupid, to squash lame ideas, and to highlight poor treatment of worker cavemen by insensitive boss cavemen.
Luckily, bosses today are as dense and humorless as ever. Politicians and altruistic concerned *input hyperniched minority segmentation* are just as shortsighted and stupid. As you can see sarcasm is the insult/ not insult that has universal use.
There are many different critics of the use of sarcasm. To make sure I am fair to such people, who are sensitive and valuable, I have made a poll to make sure I don't cross any lines. It's below... see?... just push one of three buttons... Now I have proven I care. No, really, I do.
What do you think?
sar·casm
(sar'kaz'em) noun
- A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
- A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.
- The use of sarcasm. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company.)
- Irony or bitterness, as of tone: acerbity, acidity, acridity, causticity, corrosiveness, mordacity, mordancy, trenchancy. (Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company.)
- A form of irony in which apparent praise conceals another, scornful meaning. For example, a sarcastic remark directed at a person who consistently arrives fifteen minutes late for appointments might be, "Oh, you've arrived exactly on time!" (The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.)
- The act of making fun of a person to hurt her or his feelings; harsh or bitter irony. A sneering or cutting remark; ironical taunt. (spellingpolice.com)
- the sneering, sly, jesting, or mocking of a person, situation or thing. It is strongly associated with irony, with some definitions classifying it as a type of verbal irony intended to insult or wound- stating the opposite of the intended meaning, e.g. using "that's fantastic" to mean "that's awful".
It is used mostly in a humorous manner, but can express annoyance or anger. (Wikipedia)
Sarcasm at Work
A live example of sarcasm in case you don't get it.
"Awesome! How did I get so lucky?"
Your boss give you an assignment. It's a thankless job that will take at least twelve hours off the clock to finish and produce no rewards or satisfaction. You say:
"Awesome! How did I get so lucky?"
Totally Random Amazon Item
Because I'm gonna make a ton of money!!
National Sarcasm Society: Like we need your support 11 oz. White Mug
Amazon Price: (as of 10/11/2008)
List Price: $12.99
Great Stuff on CafePress
More ways to become rich... er, I mean raise money for charity.
Sarcasm: Pros and Cons
A balanced view of sarcasm.
Sarcasm is used by people as a tool for "isolating the righteous with mockery and irony".
Bumper sticker, 2007-ish:
"My soul was removed to make room for all of this sarcasm."
Link List
Because you could care less...
- Sarcasm Society
- A quote from How to be Sarcastic:
Just because I am trying to teach you something that is usually innate and comes easy to those who are clever and intelligent, or at least quick-witted, does not mean that I presume to think myself your superior, and expect that you genuflect before me. - BBC News: 'Sarcasm' brain areas discovered
- By comparing healthy people and those with damage to different parts of the brain, they found the front of the brain was key to understanding sarcasm.
... this one's too easy.
Reader Feedback
Please leave a message. I check every day... no, really.
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The_Party_Animal
I love to be sarcastic - too bad people are slow in getting it Posted June 19, 2008 |
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mesocksorange
Love sarcasm. Thank goodness someone had the brain to put this in! Posted September 09, 2007 |
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FJ-Canyon
Great Lens...love sarcasm. Need more examples of dumb-a** bosses and sarcasm. Posted June 16, 2007 |
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