Can you recognise written sarcasm?

[simon43]

I'm getting seriously worried about some posters on this forum who apparently have never been educated in the use of sarcasm.

Many times I write a sarcastic comment in my posts, which should be recognised by even the most brain-dead reader of that post.

Yet time and time again, I receive replies which appear deadly serious in nature, rebuking me for my original comment.

Do they not understand sarcasm? Are my comments so dry in nature that they are not recognised as sarcasm?

Perhaps their reply to me is a double-sarcasm comment that I also fail to recognise????

In order to make my comments clearer, especially to those from the USA, I hereby introduce the Sarcmark, to indicate when I am being sarcastic.

This cryptic symbol is not my invention - it was introduced in 2010 as an aid to British forum posters and authors when faced with the scenario that I've described...

In future, I will make liberal use of the symbol

(sorry - that was a mistake, I was being serious.....)

Simon

[HooHaa]

if you have to denote sarcasm there is absolutely no point in using it.

Sadly literacy levels on tv are quite low - even taking into account people who are non-native speakers.

then of course there are the curmudgeons who are literal to a fault and seeking offense in all things.

TV - misery loves company.

Edited January 30, 2014 by HooHaa

[Jingthing]

That's fine, Simon.

However, I find your stereotyping of Americans not being familiar with sarcasm obnoxious and ill informed.

It is true many Americans won't get British humor but many Brits won't get American humor either.

There are issues with the written word vs. spoken language. Spoken language often provides more clues. It takes more skill to be sarcastic (and perceived as such) in writing.

Edited January 30, 2014 by Jingthing

[cloghead]

simon, you are not alone...

I "get" 'most everything you say and I'm a Yank

Edited January 30, 2014 by cloghead

[tingtong]

OP, what if a deadly serious reply is a sarcasm to your sarcasm?

[JesseFrank]

It is true many Americans won't get British humor but many Brits won't get American humor either.

Shouldn't you have used the symbol already in your post JT ?

[billSMITH]

Im as sarcastic as one can get. Just too many take this place to darn serious. A guy buys his hooker a NOODLE shop. .............lol.

[simon43]

However, I find your stereotyping of Americans not being familiar with sarcasm obnoxious and ill informed.

Sigh, I was being sarcastic.......

[yermanee]

I'm a non-native English speaker.

I have to admit that I some times have difficulties with recognizing British sarcasm. I also admit that rhyming slang is way beyond me.

However I take offense at being called a brain-dead moron because of it.

Yermanee

[chuang]

Just playing with psychology...

[dom samui]

Sarcasm (n.)- the ability to insult idiots WITHOUT them realizing it.....

Dom

[h90]

However, I find your stereotyping of Americans not being familiar with sarcasm obnoxious and ill informed.

Sigh, I was being sarcastic.......

I think sarcasm is strong in Europe, maybe stronger in east than in west Europe.

Less in USA and even less in Asia.

But of course with a huge margin of difference depending on area, society, person. Some West Germans don't have it at all and 100 km to the East it very strong.....

[h90]

I'm a non-native English speaker.

I have to admit that I some times have difficulties with recognizing British sarcasm. I also admit that rhyming slang is way beyond me.

However I take offense at being called a brain-dead moron because of it.

Yermanee

My English isn't good....but the British sarcasm is just a bit different flavor of the same thing in East Austria.....It is like a apple and pear....not the same but almost....

[Jingthing]

However, I find your stereotyping of Americans not being familiar with sarcasm obnoxious and ill informed.

Sigh, I was being sarcastic.......

Poorly. I think it's your writing, not the audience.

[RubbaJohnny]

There is a very serious in depth thesis at a leading hub university,

However must dash now to help the investigation of a serial hotel smurf.

I think the exegesis is simple simon

[Sigurris]

My kids say I am the most sarcastic person they know. I think they mean that as an insult but I wear it as a badge of honour.

But if you have to tell people when you are being sarcastic what is the point, you might as well be a Thai comedy show with drums and swanee whistles.

Better to suffer the slings and arrows than give in to pandering to those who don't get it. You cannot please everyone. Anyone with more than one post on this forum will know that.

[transam]

We all here perhaps/do come from different parts of the globe where English comes across in a different way. Plus humour is very different from different parts of the globe too......

[Brevity]

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said, "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."

Perhaps it's more a matter of people not liking your sarcasm, so they choose to ignore it and answer in a straightforward way, or as another post said, it's just not presented well enough to be recognized as sarcasm.

It is so overused by some people that I think we just lose patience for it and ignore it.

[willyumiii]

Great idea Simon!

I also can not believe some of the replies I get to my sarcastic posts.

[Tywais]

However, I find your stereotyping of Americans not being familiar with sarcasm obnoxious and ill informed.

Sigh, I was being sarcastic.......

Then do what I do, put a metatag to make it clear for those who don't get it. Eg. <yes, I'm being sarcastic>

[willyumiii]

Darn it Simon!

As one of those not so bright USA fellows, I must complain!

I just spent the better part of an hour looking for your damn sarcasm symbol on my keyboard and can't find it anywhere!

Do I need a British made keyboard to use the symbol??

I am very upset with you!

[kurnell]

Why warn the idiots that don't get the sarcastic content of a comment?? Let them make a fool of themselves for the TV world to see.

[Sayonarax]

Less sarcasm and trolling, might make this website a lot better.

I wonder how many times HooHaa has been banned from this website in his 20 wise years of living here.

You old folk come from an era of low education and your surprised its starting to show now?

[transam]

Can you explain to this old guy your above statement.

Edited January 30, 2014 by transam

[faraday]

Of course many people understand.

[thailiketoo]

I gotta admit I'm stumped on this one.

1st post, "Or as a woman once said on a BBC documentary about her "British" accent"

2nd post, "Pleeese!! Call it a Cockney accent, but please do not call it a British accent. I speak with a British accent, as does HM Queen Elizabeth,as did Lord Mountbatten... That is a British accent - everything else is a regional English (and often unintelligable) accent "

I think post #two means the guy is proud of his British accent and is belittling a cockney accent.

Does anyone find post number two sarcastic? If so how do you know?

[transam]

I gotta admit I'm stumped on this one.

1st post, "Or as a woman once said on a BBC documentary about her "British" accent"

2nd post, "Pleeese!! Call it a Cockney accent, but please do not call it a British accent. I speak with a British accent, as does HM Queen Elizabeth,as did Lord Mountbatten... That is a British accent - everything else is a regional English (and often unintelligable) accent "

I think post #two means the guy is proud of his British accent and is belittling a cockney accent.

Does anyone find post number two sarcastic? If so how do you know?

Wrong, there is no British accent. ..........The norm for UK hi-so's is an Oxford English accent...................

[h90]

My kids say I am the most sarcastic person they know. I think they mean that as an insult but I wear it as a badge of honour.

But if you have to tell people when you are being sarcastic what is the point, you might as well be a Thai comedy show with drums and swanee whistles.

Better to suffer the slings and arrows than give in to pandering to those who don't get it. You cannot please everyone. Anyone with more than one post on this forum will know that.

sarcasm.jpg

I gave it up in public because no one understands it anyway.....

[thailiketoo]

I gotta admit I'm stumped on this one.

1st post, "Or as a woman once said on a BBC documentary about her "British" accent"

2nd post, "Pleeese!! Call it a Cockney accent, but please do not call it a British accent. I speak with a British accent, as does HM Queen Elizabeth,as did Lord Mountbatten... That is a British accent - everything else is a regional English (and often unintelligable) accent "

I think post #two means the guy is proud of his British accent and is belittling a cockney accent.

Does anyone find post number two sarcastic? If so how do you know?

Wrong, there is no British accent. ..........The norm for UK hi-so's is an Oxford English accent...................

I get that but did the poster?

Was the person who wrote, "Pleeese!! Call it a Cockney accent, but please do not call it a British accent. I speak with a British accent, as does HM Queen Elizabeth,as did Lord Mountbatten... That is a British accent - everything else is a regional English (and often unintelligable) accent "

Was the person being sarcastic or did he just not know? And if he was being sarcastic how would I know?

[transam]

Must admit I speak cockney London English unless l am in the presence of Thai folk who are learning/speaking English, then l try and go down the Oxford route. They seem to get on well with that........