Cynicism, Irony or Sarcasm??

[bitingmidge]

Sigh!

Having just been quite fairly accused of sarcasm, when all I was trying to aspire to was biting cynicism combined with pithy irony, I began to wonder just what sarcasm is, and where is the invisible line that one must cross to finally master the lowest form of wit?

It seems easier to achieve the lofty heights of a sarcastic response when dealing with persons from countries to the north-east rather than than the north-west, and I wonder if that's because the nature of the posts makes a response APPEAR sarcastic, when really it is quite innocuous?

I really think, it is the duty of EVERY poster to frame an original post in such a manner that a response will be interpreted as clever, witty and ironic.

Perhaps we should make it clear that unless the emoticon is present, resemblance to any sarcasm is purely co-incidental!

It is the posers of the question who must be made accountable, not the innocent and helpful respondant!!

Cheers,

P (Near the end of a long, long week!)

[ozwinner]

Hear hear old chap.

Not once have I found your posts to be sarcastic, boring, long winded peices of codswolop, but never sarcastic.
Although I do seem to recall an answer you gave to one of my many, many most serious and valued questions last year, was almost bordering on the sarcastic.

Al

[Sturdee]

Having just been quite fairly accused of sarcasm, when all I was trying to aspire to was biting cynicism combined with pithy irony, I began to wonder just what sarcasm is, and where is the invisible line that one must cross to finally master the lowest form of wit?

Midge, I hope you were not accused because of your reply to my post on " Was justice done " for I quite enjoyed yours and Silent C remarks.

I really think, it is the duty of EVERY poster to frame an original post in such a manner that a response will be interpreted as clever, witty and ironic.................It is the posers of the question who must be made accountable, not the innocent and helpful respondant!!

See the above, if so I apologize and promise to try better next time.


Peter.

[bitingmidge]

Sturdee,

No, but thanks for feeling guilty!!


P

[ozwinner]

Sturdee, it was a Seppo.....


Al

[Sturdee]

Sturdee, it was a Seppo.....


Al

Typical, so he probably voted for Bush as well.


Peter.

[Zed]

sarcastic reply Midge : "I hope you get better Mate"

realistic / bloke response : "what you been smokin boy ?"

[bitingmidge]

sarcastic reply Midge : "I hope you get better Mate"

Ironic response:

Saaay.... you furry guys aren't so bad after all.

Cheers,

P

[Cliff Rogers]

smokin', I've had a few like that... they want to know what I'm drinking, eating (mushies if I remember one of your comments) or what I'm on.

...... mostly red or old....

[silentC]

Great thread, Midge.

[JackoH]

I do enjoy a good stoush!

[bitingmidge]

smokin', I've had a few like that... they want to know what I'm drinking, eating (mushies if I remember one of your comments) or what I'm on.

...... mostly red or old....

Surely one can't construe sarcasm out of a simple enquiry regarding one's habits gastronomic?

P

(Unless there's a big cheesy grin smiley at the end of the post!)

[Iain]

Responses are often misconstrued and I for one do not tolerate fools gladly, besides, sarcasm is an art form

[Zed]

who was it that said to the King ; "your majesty is like a stream of bats p1ss in the night" by which he meant "You stand out like a beacon of light whenst all around you is dark" Now thats both funny, sarcastic and (I feel) ironic! (being a republican and all...)

[DaveInOz]

Midge, or as you will now be known, little grasshopper,

Cynisism is an emotion, like joy, or sorrow. Like joy or sorrow the means of expressing your emotions are all important. It is most common umongst the novice cynic to express these feelings in terms of derision or outright rejection, Clasic terms like the ageless 'what a load of crap' and 'gees your a wanker' leap quickly to mind.

While terms of derision and rejection hold a measure of empowerment and the instant gratification of the look on your targets face, it is fleeting, and you risk becoming the object of derision yourself.

The skill of the true, cynic is to
Firstly: couch their cynisism in term of sarcasm so sharp the target, like a paper cut, doen't know he has been hit until he feels the sting.
Secondly: Only cut at the back of the neck, and as low as possable.This means that to draw attention to the cut the target only draws attention to how far they where sticking their neck out, all witnessing the cut are forced to observe the extent to which the target overextended.

It is important in doing this not to overextend yourself, in the hope of drawing out your target, as you may fall victim to another cynic.

Remeber these sage words - 'give them enough rope, then televise the results'

May the wit be with you.