Sarcasm: Classic or Dud

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― Otis Wheeler, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well, *duh.*

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What is the differnce between being ironic,faectious,sardonic and sarcastic.

― anthony, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Facetious is funny, sardonic is cool, ironic is long dead, and sarcastic's dead too but people don't seem to realize that. In this day and age, sarcasm's only funny when you're being serious.

― Otis Wheeler, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Would "being a smart ass" qualify as ironic, facetious, sardonic and sarcastic, Professor Wheeler?

― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It could conceivably be any of them, but smart asses are usually witty in a dull, archaic fashion. Being a smart ass is dead.

― Otis Wheeler, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sarcasm is brutally misused by the Friends generation. It's a magnificent thing in the hands of those who would use it for good, but since every mule on the street defiles it, and crucifies jokes with it, it's lost its charm a bit. Intelligent people can be humorous when they're sarcastic, the rest can be fucking infuriating

― Ronan Fitzgerald, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Any sentence with the word "duh" in it can never be sarcastic.

― Sarah, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Otis is just mad cos we're always sarcastic and rude towards him. Except for Stephanie, who just skips the sarcasm all together and is downright rude.

― Ally, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why, you meanies. Meanwhile, 'duh' can be sarcastic, but it depends on the inflection. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My problem with sarcasm is people thinking I'm serious.

― Lyra, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My problem with sarcasm is the people who use it as an opportunity to be utter and total assholes -- nasty, belittling, cruel, stupid -- and then, when called on it, say, "Oh, come on, can't you take a joke?" or some variation thereof.

These people, tangentially, often seem to be Australians and Brits.

― Phil, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not to say, btw, that Americans aren't assholes every bit as often; it's just that they seem to tend to be more ham-fisted -- but more direct -- about it.

― Phil, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What is the fucking point of it, really? If you think about it, people usually just use sarcasm as a way to mock the person they're speaking to. (i.e. "Oh definitely.... No, not definitely! I was being sarcastic, dumbass!")

They might as well just come out and say, "Oh look at me! I'm _____! I'm so stupid I'm asking a stupid question about something that's obvious."

I like the guy who said sardonic was cool. Ya mean "snotty" and "aloof"?

― Nude Spock, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Um, I thought the point was to be mocking...?

― Ally, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have a brother who says "just joking" after any comment about anything that gets a bad reaction. Family solidarity is keeping me from saying what I think of this.

― Lyra, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ally, you don't necessarily have to be mocking the person you're talking to. I'm just wondering what it's all about. When did it happen that by changing the tone ever so slightly of whatever you're saying it suddenly means the opposite? What's the fucking point of that in the English language? Why not just say what you mean? I think it's kinda of a pussy personal political way of disagreeing harshly. In effect, you're saying, "That is the stupidest fucking thing I've ever heard and I can't believe you just said it so I'm going to completely dismiss it casually and condescendingly", but it sounds more like, "hee hee, I'm picking on you". I wasn't questioning what sarcasm is, I was just questioning why it exists or why it doesn't bother anyone. Sarcasm is really a silly thing if you think about it, but it makes people think you're witty because the person who uses it is always positioning himself as better than something else.

― Nude Spock, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

... without actually having to say so.

― Nude Spock, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't know. I have friends, good friends, with whom I'm sarcastic almost all of the time, but I suppose that's more of a reverse sarcasm where we mock criticize each other or say outright mean things - meaning the opposite of course. It's simple teasing, silly fun. I mean, we could just sit back and say ACTUAL nice and flattering things to each other, but, um yechh... This way we get away with being much kinder to each other than we would otherwise be. So then it's all about the context isn't it?

― Kim, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My problem with sarcasm is that it's not funny. I used to be sarcastic 90% of the time, until I realized it's just not funny. It's tired. It's much funnier to be casually and condescendingly dismissive in a direct way.

― Otis Wheeler, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think it's funnier to be downright mean and derisive, but no one agrees with me.

― Ally, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I just said that it's funnier to be downright mean and derisive.

― Otis Wheeler, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Any condemnations of sarcasm that I could buy into would need to be based upon some universal feeling of pure malice motivating all these people that use it. Which is nonsense of course.

Personally, I've noticed that it surfaces a lot in people that are internally conflicted. Someone who is highly reactive and almost overly passionate in their opinions, but then is also self-conscious and compassionate for others, can often use sarcasm as an attempt to self-censor. Some of the things they genuinely want/need to express, they may also expect will come off as TOO harsh, negative and blunt if said plainly. I might as well say it - that I'm one of those. I dislike a good plenty lot of things, a lot, but I'll be damned if I even want to hear *myself* drone on seriously about them all. So I have three options - stay silent, lie, or temper myself somehow - and sometimes sarcasm is the best choice. If a person's feelings are directly at stake, well heck, I'll gladly clam up or lie, but if they're not, if I'm just expressing myself in the manner I'm most comfortable with - well where is the harm exactly? If my (inhibited!) voicing of disapproval of something on political/ethical/aesthetic grounds bothers someone else because *they* like it and therefore then take it personally, well I just have to feel as if there is only so much I can hold myself back to spare them that - without selling my soul or bursting at the seams that is. But I do TRY is what I'm saying. Given the general impressions people have of 'sarcastic people' on this thread, I'm suspecting that even the attempt to spare people of pure criticism is an excercise in futility. It may even be a crutch or a shield from your own bitchiness at times, but that's almost a whole new kettle of fish so er... Just wanted to say that if you yourself are never sarcastic, you just might be misreading the motivations of that one friend of yours that is.

― Kim, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah, Otis, but you get all pissy and "Dude, I'm not going to be your friend anymore if you have problems with my attitude" when I'm downright mean and derisive to you. And god forbid I call you Robin, pff. Wussbag.

― Ally, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

But when you're mean and derisive to me, you're not trying to be funny, you're always trying to get a point across or some shit. Except for what you said about my clothes last weekend, that was almost funny.

― Otis Wheeler, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sarcasm - for kids. Silly rabbits.

― dave q, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What, the "You look like Fred" thing? That wasn't meant to be funny at all! It's a serious situation that you should've run home and corrected RIGHT AWAY - or at least bought new threads at the mall and changed into them before that awful movie. Anyhow, being mean to be funny is virtually the same thing as sarcasm, being mean to be mean is where it's at and that's what I do.

― Ally, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

So, you're weird in the head, then. Kicked any puppies lately?

― Nude Spock, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ugh, dogs are so disgusting, they aren't worth the kick. I don't want dog germs on my feet.

― Ally, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

...

― duane, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My problem with sarcasm is that I never expect anyone else to be intelligent enought to be sarcastic, so I take everything literally.

― Tabs, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

five years pass...

Yeah, right. That makes sense.

One misses inflection greatly when attempting sarcasm in written form. The above, if uttered, could well be said in a cheerful and sprightly voice, devoid of sarcastic intent, or it could vocally signal the onset of a sneer. Without inflection who is to know?

As for the thread question, I'd say dud for anyone beyond the age of 17, and 17 is definitely pushing it.

― Aimless, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 17:58 (eighteen years ago)

I'm fond of a (technical) subset of sarcasm we might call "ridiculous claims in deadpan."

― nabisco, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:23 (eighteen years ago)

That is, of course, great fun, but it depends heavily on the content and presentation of the ridiculous claim. Claiming that one's older sister looks like whoever is the reigning goddess of the silver screen shows a clumsy lack of skill. However, claiming that you once scored off the charts on a test of olfactory function and that your older sister's shit smells of roses and old lavender, shows the sort of mettle required for this sport.

― Aimless, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:32 (eighteen years ago)

Are you a disher or a taker?

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 19:16 (eighteen years ago)

One of my very favorite Kids in the Hall skits is from the first season: Mark Foley is a guy who can only speak super sarcastically: "OH NO this is a WONderFUL party." And I can never tell if he's genuinely a sarcastic ass or it's a curse and he means everything he says. It's brilliant.

― Abbott, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 19:32 (eighteen years ago)

seven months pass...

I have never liked sarcasm in my entire life!

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 16:43 (eighteen years ago)

Can be classic in real life if done with intelligence. Dud on the internet because I can never spot it.

― chap, Friday, 25 January 2008 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

I can never spot it IRL! Seriously, a question I ask people very often is "was that sarcasm?"

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 16:46 (eighteen years ago)

It makes me feel like a simp.

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 16:46 (eighteen years ago)

I'm fond of a (technical) subset of sarcasm we might call "ridiculous claims in deadpan."

This I love and do all the time though!

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

That's one of my favourite kinds as well.

― chap, Friday, 25 January 2008 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

It is not so much sarcasm as a non-pretentious absurdism IMO.

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

One of my very favorite Kids in the Hall skits is from the first season: Mark Foley is a guy who can only speak super sarcastically: "OH NO this is a WONderFUL party." And I can never tell if he's genuinely a sarcastic ass or it's a curse and he means everything he says. It's brilliant.

-- Abbott, Wednesday, June 6, 2007 3:32 PM (7 months ago) Bookmark Link

mark foley??

― and what, Friday, 25 January 2008 17:03 (eighteen years ago)

Hahaha David Foley, not some Superkid of the Hall mutant.

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 17:03 (eighteen years ago)

David Foley's 'straight man' stereotype is inaccurate, I think.

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 17:04 (eighteen years ago)

mark foley's "straight man" act was pretty inaccurate

― and what, Friday, 25 January 2008 17:04 (eighteen years ago)

Mark Foley was the funniest thing on the news in forever.

― Abbott, Friday, 25 January 2008 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded.

Dusty-Dusty, Notes from Underground, Chapter 2, section 4 (1864)

I am home for the holidays and enduring some critical "what are you doing with your life" stuff from family, and this quote is providing some consolation.

― Tale of a Tubby (wanko ergo sum), Wednesday, 25 November 2009 01:32 (sixteen years ago)

weird, very similar thing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBGh03nvkdU

― Pedro Paramore (jim), Wednesday, 25 November 2009 01:44 (sixteen years ago)

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