Sarcasm and it's companion Irony

A common form of reply on this site and one I try to avoid. Somewhere along the line I learned that sacrcasm wasn't humor, it wasn't 'laughing with someone' and it wasn't done with good will ever.

Lets look at the definition:

Irony employed in the service of mocking or attacking someone is sarcasm. Saying "Oh, you're soooo clever!" with sarcasm means the target is really just a dunderhead.

Sarcasm is alway an agression towards the subject. It's the very definition of passive agression speech. When someone objects the reply is usually (any ways the ones I always heard) "I was only kidding" or "I was being sacrastic, you can't take a joke" when here was no joke behind the words only fear.

Sarcsm is also used in agruments when someone has nothing constructive to add and wants to 'make fun'. Why not just be quiet - why the need for attention.

Sarcasm is sometimes used as merely a synonym of irony, but the word has a more specific sense: irony that's meant to mock or convey contempt. This meaning is found in its etymology. In Greek, sarkazein meant "to tear flesh; to wound." When you use sarcasm, you really tear into them.

"...to tear flesh..." agressive and violent intent.

then there is Irony:

Reserve irony for situations where there's a gap between reality and expectations, especially when such a gap is created for dramatic or humorous effect.

Which seems to be where people got the idea that scarasm was humorous without bothering to recognize the rest of the definition.

People who "believe" in a certain expectation really resort to 'scarasm' when actual reality (verifible and repeatable reality) doesn't meet up with their (self-centered) expectations.

It isn't a valid argument of any kind, it's a diversionary tool - see by some as clever.

In Greek, eiron meant a dissembler — someone who hides their true intentions. Today, we do something very similar when we employ irony, often by saying the opposite of what we really mean.

A dissembler - a lier or someone making it up because they have no valid response.

We all lie for convenience at times, to make life easier; but those who use irony and sarcasm are not clever.

Take note of people who say they were 'only kidding', it isn't true.

All definitions from: www.vocabulary.com...

a reply to: FyreByrd

You got so pissed yesterday you referred to people who disagreed with you as "plant life"!

Was that "Irony" or "Sarcasm"?

Or was it merely a sneaky way of calling those who thought differently "manure"?

Or were you just "kidding"?

My edit was to change plant food to plant life! My apologies for saying something you didn't say! I corrected it though and I am sorry.

jilted jealousy plays a part too.

a reply to: seeker1963

it's an old trick for people to accuse others of what they themselves are guilty of.

it's a deep psychological complex.

- Confucius

a reply to: FyreByrd

So I have always been super sarcastic.. To the point I actually got into making it quite humorous.. BUT, every 2nd time I used sarcasm I noticed the other person "didn't get it." Even with a big grin on my face.. and a huh huh.. nudge nudge..

I was for sure coming off the wrong way, but it took years for me to readjust myself to be a more compassionate person.
Sarcasm for me came from thinking I was smarter than other people and that their silly statements or questions were wasting my time.. Sarcasm cut through the mess fast, and I thought it was also humorous..

It wasn't funny, and it wasn't constructive.. So instead I slow down.. I realize I am just a people.. I am not the arbiter of what is right or wrong, and I don't get to treat people like that.

I still use sarcasm, in light doses. When I go to my true Scorpio sarcasm, it's because I am trying to HURT you. This would probably only happen if I was trying to get you to stop killing yourself, or if I was defending an underdog.


It's funny I watched this video recently
and I think it makes your point pretty well.

a reply to: KnightLight

Don't you hate it when things you meant as a playful or funny dig goes right over the head of the one you directed it to?

a reply to: seeker1963

# just got real... lol

I see what you mean. I'll probably stop using sarcasm now and totally disregard irony and it's redheaded stepson satire.

I'll have a big bonfire tonite of all my books by Chaucer, Hunter S Thompson, Mencken and Jane Austin.

uh oh, I noticed I have a few other books that need to be burned also by Mark
twain, Hemingway, Kurt Vonnegut and norman Mailer....their use us sarcasm and irony now just disgusts me.

originally posted by: Ashirah
a reply to: KnightLight

Don't you hate it when things you meant as a playful or funny dig goes right over the head of the one you directed it to?

You know I do, haha

Did I miss somethin?. Mm I can't tell at this moment.. Winky face, smiley face, sticking tongue out, cAn YoU SEE I AM JOKING YET !!!!


I do my best.

originally posted by: olaru12
I see what you mean. I'll probably stop using sarcasm now and totally disregard irony and it's redheaded stepson satire.

Sarcasm right??

I enjoy it myself, but I like getting poked.

Oh Beezzer down there haha.

Is this micro or macro aggression.

I get confused.

a reply to: FyreByrd

I"m glad you have come to understand this byrd. Not that I have any reason to suppose you have not known this all along. However, it is a good post and I think worth our time to think about. Me? I think that sarcasm is for the weak of mind, those who want to hide their true feelings behind a veneer of false humor.

The world needs sarcastic people . All humor is based on one of three things, sarcasm, irony or stupidity .



If it wasn't for sarcasm /irony look what you'd be left with .

Confucius say ...

When confronted by your own failures, turn them into weapons.

From Urban dictionary…

A tongue of which the user speaks of something the complete opposite of what the user means. It often has the best comedic value.

I don't use it to bite, but to make light.

a reply to: FyreByrd

That's very interesting. I'll take special note of it. I'll even show this to all my friends.

originally posted by: seeker1963
a reply to: FyreByrd

You got so pissed yesterday you referred to people who disagreed with you as "plant life"!

Was that "Irony" or "Sarcasm"?

Or was it merely a sneaky way of calling those who thought differently "manure"?

Or were you just "kidding"?

My edit was to change plant food to plant life! My apologies for saying something you didn't say! I corrected it though and I am sorry.

I wasn't being sarcasic perhaps ironic - as I expected replies to my OP and reality was quite different. I'm not sure.

a reply to: KnightLight


Thanks for the honest reply. I've a long history with scacasm myself. I enjoyed the video.

a reply to: FyreByrd

Sarcasm is alway an agression towards the subject. It's the very definition of passive agression speech. When someone objects the reply is usually (any ways the ones I always heard) "I was only kidding" or "I was being sacrastic, you can't take a joke" when here was no joke behind the words only fear.

Sarcsm is also used in agruments when someone has nothing constructive to add and wants to 'make fun'. Why not just be quiet - why the need for attention.

I hope you're being sarcastic here, or at least a little ironic, because anyone who equates sarcasm and irony to aggression has probably never experienced either of them.

originally posted by: olaru12
I see what you mean. I'll probably stop using sarcasm now and totally disregard irony and it's redheaded stepson satire.

I'll have a big bonfire tonite of all my books by Chaucer, Hunter S Thompson, Mencken and Jane Austin.

uh oh, I noticed I have a few other books that need to be burned also by Mark
twain, Hemingway, Kurt Vonnegut and norman Mailer....their use us sarcasm and irony now just disgusts me.

It is used a lot in literature and I really do think it is anger coming out. Perhaps that is where it belongs, in literature where fictional characters take the heat instead of real people.

It is condescending and contemptuous and above authors are not known for their shining personalities. And frankly I'm not a fan of any of those authors - I respect their work, am related to one and think they were profound thinkers. But there are many other great authors that don't have to resort to such devices.

Satire - the definition I find for Satire is a bit different :

Satire and irony are interlinked. Irony is the difference between what is said or done and what is actually meant. Therefore, writers frequently employ satire to point at the dishonesty and silliness of individuals and society and criticize them by ridiculing them.

It any case - when written it is directed towards fictional characters and not actual living persons.