In a recent thread, several people have taken it upon themselves to explain to me how a fellow named Dean Allen is the master of an obscure literary form of which I had previously been unaware, known by the peculiar term "sarcasm." Upon looking it up in the dictionary, I was aghast. I, a student of letters, had never heard of such an adroit literary construct! It seems almost a form of poetry, although not quite. I'm not sure I've got a handle on it just yet, but I am trying, and I hope they'll be patient with me.
Said caring individuals have further let me know that Mr. Allen, while he may have said several things that a neanderthal such as myself might take to be insulting, was merely practicing this very same high art form! Indeed, it appears that I (along with some of my troglodyte readers) would do well to appreciate the subtleties inherent in this genre of literary endeavor. Insulting? Surely not. No, it's just sarcasm you see!
I want to let it be known that I find it deeply moving when people take time from their busy lives to explain to me about how things like sarcasm work. I shall take these caring and thoughtful missives to heart. A humble naif such as myself obviously has much to learn. I can only hope to study at the feet of the great masters, knowing as little about it as I do.
It is, truly, so moving that I fairly well weep with joy. The cynics of the world are wrong. Wrong I say! Humanity once again proves that, as awful as the world may be, kind and generous souls still exist.
Or, to put it another way: You like me! You really, really like me!
I am humbled.
Sir,
Correcting ignorance in the young is the job of every civilized man and woman. It is, indeed, humbling to be in the presence (even virtually) of so many who take it upon themselves to correct such ignorance. I salute you, sir! It takes a special kind of man to bring out the best in people...
But, the thing is, you DID wander blindly past some pretty obvious sarcasm.
Now you're like Boothe jumping from the theater balcony a second time, to show he "meant" to do it.
Not going very well for you, this.
Boy, you people don't give up, do you? Shut up, Edwin. Why should we listen to someone who can't even spell "Anderson"? (There -- that's an example the sort of preadolescent "sarcasm" Mr. Allen was engaging in. It's no wonder an adult missed it -- grown-ups don't usually pay attention to such pulings.)
As for Mr. Allen, he's going in my Dave Winer Idiot Web Savant list.
Dean Esmay:
Just admit it, dude. You stole the idea of sarcasm from Dean Allen.
Dean:
Yeah, right.
at least you went out of your way to prove you got the joke, dean.
andrea seems hell-bent on telling the world she didn't... ;)
Why is everyone writing to Dean? He didn't write the post and hasn't commented on it. Or is that more sarcasm?
Dangit, I wasn't quite ready for irony this early in the morning...
You see? Each day I learn something more about this amazing art form. Apparently, the way you express sarcasm is that you burst into the comments of someone's weblog, call him a liar, demonstrate that you know nothing about how internet search engines work, insult him in a half-dozen other subtle ways, and then say he just doesn't understand your little joke when he responds.
It's an amazing art form. I am taking notes, Mr. Anderton. I deeply appreciate learned masters such as yourself taking the time to help this poor student along.
Snarky fun. This is what blogging is all about.
Oh, I 'get' the 'joke,' 'Claire.'
Rose:
"Sorry." I didn't "read" the "fine" print.
Ara:
"What" are "you" talking "about"?
Andrea:
Nobody that has ever read you doubts that you 'get' it? Noway baby!
You are the Queen of "getting" it.
DO YOU PEOPLE HEAR ME???
SHE'S the Damn Queen of GETTING IT!!!!!
Okay?
Rose:
I thought "Dean" wrote this "post," not "you."
Ara
P.S. If I was having any more fun I'd have to be twins.
"LOL"
I learned something about sarcasm a while back...
"Sarcasm is an expression of anger that you don't take responsibility for."
... and I have had to work really hard at getting over the bad habit of being extremely sarcastic.
Now, when I feel anger towards someone, I just tell them what I'm pissed about, flip them the finger and move on.
No evasions about their looks or writing style, just:
"Hey, You're stupid and I want to smash your head!"
I feel so much better about myself, having taken responsibility for my feelings.
Can I get a hug?
We love you Mike! [hugs]
That will be $10 please.
ARA:
"DEAN" "DID" "WRITE" "THIS".
He just logged in as me - probably "accidently".
"Crap." I only just noticed that I'd "made" that mistake. "How" did I do "that?"
That's what "happens" when you're both "using" the same "computer."
Can we "stop" this "now?"
"Dean."
Only "if" we "have" to...
Party "pooper"
"!"
Rose: so Andrea is the "queen of GETTING IT".
Don't you think that's rather a personal thing to share on the Web?
"""I T"h"ink""" "Th"at"" on"e """ of "the"""'''"
the K"ey"s on"" my """keyboard """ is Stu""ck"".
P"leas"e"""" don"'"t "mi"s""""construe" the" m""eaning"" of my ""post""
Mike S --
Your insight on sarcasm was enlightening. No, really!
:^)
It reminded me of a story I think I read once in the Reader's Digest (remember them?) Anyway an English professor is giving a lecture and points out that, in English grammer, a double negative denotes a postive. However a double positive does not denote a negative, to which one of his students replied, "Yeah, right."
no, No, NO! Have pity on me, please!
I can't take anymore sarcasm!!!
What's next? IRONY?? (gasp...)
Casey:
We are Women - Hear us roar or moan or fake it or bitch about it - whatever...
or should I say "whatever"
Unless I'm missing a bizarrely americanised form of humour here, the above is more a literary hatchet-job. I suggest you find a better dictionary.