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Sarcasm in the written word
Written By dreamweaver on Jan. 18, 2007.
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Though I've thought about this before, in other places and other times, some of the recent Notes entries have brought the whole question to the front of my mind again, and crystallized it:
Is sarcasm really necessary, or even completely understood always, in the written word?
Now, I don't mean in novels, literature, media commentary, or the like. I mean in places like 9Rules Notes, forums and chat rooms, which is why I placed this Note in Personal instead of in Writing. Here are my thoughts:
Even when you are standing face to face with someone you know well, there is a chance that sarcasm can be misinterpreted. That chance is possibly slim, depending on how well you know the person, but it's still there. Tone of voice, facial expression and body language all contribute to the identification of sarcastic meaning, but even with all of that right in front of you, misunderstandings still happen.
When you remove the visual and aural cues, the chances of misreading sarcasm go up exponentially, IMO. Add in the fact that many of us here, and in many other "interactive" places like 9Rules Notes (the forums and chat rooms elsewhere) are not well acquainted with each other, and there's even more potential for misunderstanding and the fallout that goes with it.
What about people of other cultures, and non- native English speakers? Is sarcasm universally understood? I doubt it.
What are your thoughts on this?
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Oli
Written Jan. 18, 2007 / Report /
Some people don't carry it off well in written word... So much of it is to do with the way you say the words so something has to be very obviously sarcastic for the written version to make sense.
Remember that 70% of what you say is what you look like.
20% is how you sound.
10% is what you say.
So if you want the meaning to be as clear as when you're talking directly to somebody, you need to increase the clarity by 900%.
That's not to say you can't pull it off still... Just as you can pull off things like rhetoric... You just need to be clear.
It must be a bitch for people that aren't blesséd with english for their native tongue trying to read snide remarks and sarcastic jokes.
dreamweaver
Written Jan. 18, 2007 / Report /
All good points Oli, as expected, BUT, I think there could always be an instance where the "very obviously sarcastic" to one person would look like "what an ass" to someone else if you see what I mean. I think it happened on another thread within the last couple of days.
And, I'm not sure how many people can really pull off being THAT clear in writing, so that there's no question whether their comments are sarcastic. So many people can't pull it off in person even.
Oli
Written Jan. 18, 2007 / Report /
I assume you're talking about the hook-up thread. I don't think anybody else there saw the sarcasm. That's not to say it's not a valuable tool in a big debate, written or not, provided you pull it off.
The thing is, if you can't use it, you shouldn't because everybody misunderstands you and you look like an "ass".
Haha that's so true.
I don't think it should be banned or anything crazy like that but people should know if they can or can't use it and limit themselves accordingly... It is their loss, after all.
lisa
Written Feb. 8, 2007 / Report /
I don't know... I don't think I could write without sarcasam. It's so much a part of who I am, that it wouldn't make sense without it.
Although, I tend to over-do it when in public forums, so that people can tell that I am. I find that little winky emoticon a valuble tool.
Kamigoroshi
Written Feb. 8, 2007 / Report /
I can't pull off true sarcasm because in part it's based on the way you say it. What I can do is pull off witty one liners that are close to sarcasm. But it has to be obvious that it's in the context of the sentence or most people won't get it.
chris
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
(Depending on the situation) if someone doesn't see the sarcasm in something I've said, it slightly amuses me.
Griffin
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
When in doubt I tend to avoid assuming I know the motivations of internet folk. Something may come off as funny to me but to someone else he or she is being an asshat.
As I learn the personalities of the Note members or any internet forum-ish community you get used to people, who will use a witty sarcastic quip who usually stays prime and proper and so forth. I kinda feel like part of understanding people on the internet is how much time I put into listening to them and how much of my "shit" I can let go of. If I'm not aware of my issues then I'll tend to create them. You know, if rudeness triggers me I might tend to see it where it isn't. Two way street for me I guess. People should be aware of clear communication but I need to be aware of my assumptions, when I'm creating a context outta thin air.
shadeofgray
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
I don't know, I think I only use sarcasm in my writing when I absolutely positively know it will come across as sarcasm... and that's not to often. So I guess if you notice that a lot of people start calling you a jerk, or tell you to "cool off" you know you shouldn't be "writing with sarcasm".
Pierre
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
I think it's important to avoid sarcasm during writing, mainly because you never know who can/will read it. When you say it in front of them, you can see and interpret the reaction. On blogs and websites, they can just lurk away--pissed off.
Alday
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
yeah, I'm going to totally do away with sarcasm, it sucks.
shadeofgray
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
Alday, you're the hugest jerk alive!!!!
chris
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
I'm surprised it took so long.
dreamweaver
Written Feb. 9, 2007 / Report /
Yes, I like that one too, but I wish there were another one that was really geared toward sarcasm alone, because sometimes the wink isn't quite enough maybe...especially if you don't know the person who's writing.
Griffin, very good points. Sometimes it's our own assumptions about others that can lead to trouble with sarcastic comments.
shadeofgray, I feel the same, that it's not too often (when in mixed company, anyway) that I can be absolutely positive that everybody will catch the sarcasm, so I don't use it much when I write. When I'm writing back and forth with my mom in email, I can be as sarcastic as I want, since I got it all from her to begin with, and I'm sure she gets it.
Pierre, great points too, and we write so that people will read it, so we wouldn't want them lurking away.
And I wondered how long it would be before Alday showed up with something predictable to add!! Cool off!
Chris, is that what you meant by "surprised it took so long??"