Sarcasm Doesn't Travel Well Online! Why Do We Use Sarcasm? Is Sarcasm Really Our Chasm?

How many times have you been speaking with someone online and wondered why the other said a particularly strange and illogical thing, only to later learn that they were being sarcastic - but you didn't know? This occurs for me so regularly that I learned to stop being sarcastic, since it is more valuable to me that I am understood than that I am thought of as being 'witty' or 'funny'.

In truth, I have learned that sarcasm generally isn't really very funny or attractive and the quote I heard a lot as a child now rings true:

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."

What is Sarcasm?

A common dictionary definition of sarcasm is:

1. a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain

2. a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual

So it is clear that Sarcasm relies upon some form of unpleasant aspect that is somewhat like a weapon. Sarcasm is intended to be felt to be understood and that is part of why it's effects backfire when used online - since to have a felt and bonded connection with another via the electronic and inherently non-emotional internet is much more challenging than in a direct, physical interaction. The idea is that we will feel the presence of the sarcastic reversal of logic and will either laugh due to the humor involved or even be hurt and rejected, thus receiving an insult instead of humour.

Sarcasm is generally an act of aggression in denial

There is a reason why people sometimes suddenly become aggressive or angry and even violent whereas previously they had been placid and apparently peaceful (on the surface) - which is to do with the way we can be holding denied emotions that surface when triggered. While our emotions are denied, they effect our thought process without us consciously realising and due to the denial involved we ourselves will often actively deny that this is occurring. Since we typically deny the emotions that we don't like much - like anger and fear, the common outcome is that we are being run by denied anger and fear to some extent and each of us expresses these denied emotions in ways that are unique to us. Some might suddenly become violent for no obvious reason, but others might attempt to use cutting sarcasm. The way to know the truth is the FEEL the truth of what is going on beneath the surface and the more you do this, the more you will be able to feel the presence of what is in denial - so much so that you may be able to know other people better than they know themselves!

With all of this in mind, it can be understood that while we ourselves may sometimes be using sarcasm habitually - perhaps as a defence mechanism to attempt to cover up our own fear or lack of sense of self worth; the ultimate outcome is that sarcasm, at best, is a kind of heartless attack and at worst is just a complete waste of time and energy!

Sarcasm online generally doesn't work anyway!

The difference between delivering a spoken sentence that is sarcastic and one that is not is generally one of tone and accent - so some of the words are accentuated in such a way that the suggestion is that there is some kind of low IQ/Intelligence involved that can't understand the words and thus needs them to be spoken slowly. So to attempt to translate this online in a direct way, simply isn't going to work unless we actually wriiittteee the wooooorrrdsss ouuutttt liiike thiiisssss.. because, like.. that tooootalllly maakes life easssier, riiiight?
;)

Generally, though, we don't actually do this when writing sarcastically and so much of the sarcasm is lost - which exposes the fundamental flaw of sarcasm for all to see.. SARCASM IS UNINTELLIGENT! So like a gun that points backwards it is generally true that sarcasm only results in us looking like an imbecile. There are some ways to use sarcasm in a universally funny way, but in my experience, we would feel better about ourselves and our interactions with others by simply learning to interact in a positive way that uplifts all involved, rather than attempting to ridicule and get 'one up' on the others in our lives using such weak tactics as sarcasm.

Sarcasm.. S'Our Chasm!

A Sour Chasm, indeed!

What do you think/feel on this? Are you able to comment non sarcastically?

If you have any thoughts, feedback or inspired, related ideas then let me know in the comments below. * Cue sarcastic comments * . lol

Wishing you well,
Ura Soul

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