Warning for the board.

[mking624]

Sigh.

Look at the Greek root and tell me how sarcasm can be anything other than hurtful or malicious. I didn't take three years of Greek for my health, you know.

Yes, it's a form of irony-- the hurtful form.

Irony need not be hurtful; it is merely a rhetorical device with manifold uses. And sarcasm is the pain-inflicting use.

Satire is irony used against power. It is primarily scornful since it is power which hurts the satirist.

FrontierSuzy is spot on in her observation that distinguishing facetiousness and sarcasm can be difficult. That's why: 1) it's good to know your audience, and 2) be aware of the danger of facetiousness sans body language.

I'm convinced that the message of the mods here is:

Be facetious.

Be ironic.

Even be satirical, if you please.

But do NOT be sarcastic.

Ricks (who says, "Kids, it's the English language. Be careful where you point it.")

I wasn't trying to argue with you (fyi, DH took 2 years of biblical Greek which is nothing like today's Greek - and now he's onto Hebrew -, so I'm sure he can completely understand that it's not very easy...so I empathize with you ). Basically I was just trying to point out that sarcasm, irony, satire, and facetiousness all are words/actions that have an underlying meaning...whether meant in a witty or malicious way. Words tend to evolve over time as do their definitions (i.e. the word "gay" is very rarely used anymore to describe the emotion of happiness) and many people now use sarcasm as a form of humor (humorous insults)...which is why I think people have been getting confused over this rule.

As Lori pointed out, semantics aside, the bottom line is that maliciousness isn't desired or welcomed.

 

[Blumonkeyboy]

Look at the Greek root and tell me how sarcasm can be anything other than hurtful or malicious

Im sorry did you just call me Skillfull and Delicious

 

[Laurabearz]

Im sorry did you just call me Skillfull and Delicious

 

[FrontierNatasha]

Does anyone want to answer my question?

 

[Maleficent2]

Does anyone want to answer my question?

Front the question has been answered several times in this thread. Please refer to the answers already given.


Thank you.

Mal

 

[FrontierNatasha]

Front the question has been answered several times in this thread. Please refer to the answers already given.


Thank you.

Mal

Yea but I still don't get it. I want to know if my examples are right.