Sarcasm?!

3:27 pm 10 March 2015

Sarcasm detection is an essential skill if one is going to function in a modern society dripping with irony. Sarcastic statements are sort of a true lie. You’re saying something you don’t literally mean, and the communication works as intended only if your listener gets that you’re insincere. Sarcasm has a two-faced quality: it’s both funny and mean.

To deal with sarcasm, you have to perform a series of mental shifts to “translate” what is being said. This (a) exercises your brain more; and (b) makes you more aware of multiple levels of meaning. That extra work MAY make our brains sharper. Sarcasm “appears to stimulate complex thinking and to attenuate the otherwise negative effects of anger,” according to studies.

Studies about sarcasm have found that:
- Exposure to sarcasm enhances creative problem solving;
- An inability to understand sarcasm MAY be an early warning sign of brain disease;
- When things go sour, a sarcastic comment is a way to simultaneously express our expectation as well as our disappointment;
- We’re more likely to use sarcasm with our friends than our enemies;
- Kids pick up the ability to detect sarcasm at a young age(as young as 5);
- 25% of people aren't sarcastic and 30% can't spot it(but "think" they can). Half of us can’t recognize sarcasm in the first place;
- most (69 out of 73) sarcasm used positive language to imply a negative intent, such as “You did a wonderful parking job”;
- most (67 out of 73) sarcasm was directed at others, not at oneself("Self sarcasm? WTF! Who would do that?");
- Most comments (62 out of 73) were not considered serious, but were instead primarily teasing in nature;
- Less than half (30 of 73) sarcasm was used to evaluate someone's else performance or choices.

Just for fun, some sarcastic(or not) quotes:
- "I'm not anti-social, I just don't like you."
- "My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right."
- "I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing."
- "Life is hard. Its even harder if you're stupid."
- "I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally."
- "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."
- "Don't underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers."
- "SMILE! It scares people"
- "Being right too soon is socially unacceptable." Robert A. Heinlein
- "I like to tell people I have the heart of a small boy. Then I say it's in a jar on my desk." Stephen King
- "Is there another word for synonym?"
- "Don't talk about yourself so much... we'll do that when you leave."
- "I'd like to see things your way, but I'm not sure if I can stick my head that far up my ass."
- "People say life's a bitch, they never met me."