My ex-husband once had the audacity to ask what I was going to the library for. Without missing a beat I replied, “Getting an ice-cream cone.” Sarcasm as defined in the American Heritage Dictionary is “A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.” Also, as “A form of wit that is marked by the use of . . . language [that is] intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.” Defined in this light, one would have us believe that the utilization of sarcasm is akin to wielding razor-sharp weapons! Not so. I believe sarcasm is a truly effective means of communication. A creative, quick-witted style of thinking and speaking that doesn’t necessarily wound as much as it, well . . . stuns its victims.
Sarcasm has been given a bad rap over the years. I use it, my family uses it, and my friends use it—and look how good we turned out. I use it when I’m frustrated: “Wow. Could this day get any better?” I use it when I’m sad: “I can’t believe the last time I was this happy.” I use it when I’m angry: “Who me? Angry? No! Not me!” And, I use it when I do not want to do something: “Surrrre . . . I’d just love to pick up your dry cleaning during that extra five minutes in my schedule today!” See? Effective. But, as the warning goes: don’t try this at home boys and girls. Sarcasm can only be used by trained professionals. Amateurs need not apply. Unless you have perfected this finely-tuned, delicately-precise means of communication, you could be in big trouble. It’s only as effective as its user. One needs the perfect tone, the exact facial expressions, and a deliberate tilt of the head at just the right angle---otherwise, you’ve just bombed. If all the components are not working together like the intricate workings of a Swiss watch, then you’ve just told your 63 year-old mother that you really don’t mind taking her shopping, stopping at the eye doctor, filling her prescription, and depositing her social security check today before noon.
I certainly don’t mean to imply that sarcasm doesn’t serve the role of plain old rudeness either. It has, let’s face it, been used facetiously. And yet, it still holds true, that it can be fun. For me there seems to be some internal satisfaction when I use it—especially when I get a good one in. And we all have our favorites. A classic? “I hate when that happens.” You can use it virtually anywhere, anytime and get that feel-good, smart-alec affect you take such pleasure in. Yes, sarcasm—the breakfast of champions.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Does That Come With A Side of Sarcasm?
My ex-husband once had the audacity to ask what I was going to the library for. Without missing a beat I replied, “Getting an ice-cream cone.” Sarcasm as defined in the American Heritage Dictionary is “A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.” Also, as “A form of wit that is marked by the use of . . . language [that is] intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.” Defined in this light, one would have us believe that the utilization of sarcasm is akin to wielding razor-sharp weapons! Not so. I believe sarcasm is a truly effective means of communication. A creative, quick-witted style of thinking and speaking that doesn’t necessarily wound as much as it, well . . . stuns its victims.
Sarcasm has been given a bad rap over the years. I use it, my family uses it, and my friends use it—and look how good we turned out. I use it when I’m frustrated: “Wow. Could this day get any better?” I use it when I’m sad: “I can’t believe the last time I was this happy.” I use it when I’m angry: “Who me? Angry? No! Not me!” And, I use it when I do not want to do something: “Surrrre . . . I’d just love to pick up your dry cleaning during that extra five minutes in my schedule today!” See? Effective. But, as the warning goes: don’t try this at home boys and girls. Sarcasm can only be used by trained professionals. Amateurs need not apply. Unless you have perfected this finely-tuned, delicately-precise means of communication, you could be in big trouble. It’s only as effective as its user. One needs the perfect tone, the exact facial expressions, and a deliberate tilt of the head at just the right angle---otherwise, you’ve just bombed. If all the components are not working together like the intricate workings of a Swiss watch, then you’ve just told your 63 year-old mother that you really don’t mind taking her shopping, stopping at the eye doctor, filling her prescription, and depositing her social security check today before noon.
I certainly don’t mean to imply that sarcasm doesn’t serve the role of plain old rudeness either. It has, let’s face it, been used facetiously. And yet, it still holds true, that it can be fun. For me there seems to be some internal satisfaction when I use it—especially when I get a good one in. And we all have our favorites. A classic? “I hate when that happens.” You can use it virtually anywhere, anytime and get that feel-good, smart-alec affect you take such pleasure in. Yes, sarcasm—the breakfast of champions.
Sarcasm has been given a bad rap over the years. I use it, my family uses it, and my friends use it—and look how good we turned out. I use it when I’m frustrated: “Wow. Could this day get any better?” I use it when I’m sad: “I can’t believe the last time I was this happy.” I use it when I’m angry: “Who me? Angry? No! Not me!” And, I use it when I do not want to do something: “Surrrre . . . I’d just love to pick up your dry cleaning during that extra five minutes in my schedule today!” See? Effective. But, as the warning goes: don’t try this at home boys and girls. Sarcasm can only be used by trained professionals. Amateurs need not apply. Unless you have perfected this finely-tuned, delicately-precise means of communication, you could be in big trouble. It’s only as effective as its user. One needs the perfect tone, the exact facial expressions, and a deliberate tilt of the head at just the right angle---otherwise, you’ve just bombed. If all the components are not working together like the intricate workings of a Swiss watch, then you’ve just told your 63 year-old mother that you really don’t mind taking her shopping, stopping at the eye doctor, filling her prescription, and depositing her social security check today before noon.
I certainly don’t mean to imply that sarcasm doesn’t serve the role of plain old rudeness either. It has, let’s face it, been used facetiously. And yet, it still holds true, that it can be fun. For me there seems to be some internal satisfaction when I use it—especially when I get a good one in. And we all have our favorites. A classic? “I hate when that happens.” You can use it virtually anywhere, anytime and get that feel-good, smart-alec affect you take such pleasure in. Yes, sarcasm—the breakfast of champions.
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