Science vs. Sarcasm
The other day, I happened across this article on the website PsychCentral.com. (because I like to spend my time browsing PsychCentral.com, because I am a psychologist who is interested in matters relating to the field of psychology.)
See what I did there?
I am not, in fact, a psychologist, nor am I particularly interested in boning up on all my favorite peer reviewed psych journals in one convenient webspace. (I don’t even have a favorite peer reviewed psych journal.)
I was using a form of humor called sarcasm, which, according to the “scientific” studies cited in this article, apparently is misunderstood by the majority of people.
the majority of people — 55 percent — who responded to this survey thought they were giving an example of a sarcastic remark they made, when in fact what they gave was a non-sarcastic remark!
Oh snap! Scientific discovery!
Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking: Big surprise. It’s not exactly a secret that a lot of people out there have no idea what certain rhetorical devices actually mean, much less how to use them properly. It’s not like you can expect everyone to be a certified sarcasm operator:
But still. In this day and age, especially given the pervasiveness of sarcasm in film and on television, not to mention everywhere on the internet, you’d think at least a simple majority of people would know which lever they were pulling on the LOL machine. It’s not that complicated! I suppose it just comes down to the fact that A LOT of people just don’t have a sense of humor unless it involves someone getting violent injured, this, or this. (or is it this?)
But still.
Just check out some of these responses.
Someone wrote this down as an example of a time they used sarcasm.
You really need to stop letting things blow your head up because you’re not that cute!
First of all, this doesn’t even make sense. Second of all, you know what, I AM THAT CUTE. Just because I broke up with you doesn’t give you the right to send your “sarcastic” text messages to the sarcasm scientists as a [incorrect] example of a time you used sarcasm to insult your ex-boyfriend. [incorrectly] I hope one day you’re humiliated in front of a bunch of psychologists on PsychCentral.com–oh wait, that already happened. I hate you.
Anyway, the point is, people don’t know what the hell they’re doing when it comes to sarcasm. Or, as the author of the study puts it in his [amazing] conclusion:
Sarcasm represents a difficult verbal behavior, and many speakers who attempt to use it, fail to accomplish their task.
Ouch. BURNT! I’m pretty sure Professor Sarcasm et al. just submited that shit to FAILblog.
Look, here’s the BOTTOM LINE: clearly we U.S. Americans need to review the definition of sarcasm. So here it is, provided by said Professor of Sarcasm Studies at Irony University.
Sarcasm is simply saying something intended in a mean-spirited, derogatory or unpleasant manner while meaning the exact opposite.
See? Not that difficult. It’s simply saying something in a mean-spirited, derogatory, or unpleasant manner while meaning the exact opposite. Like saying you read online Psychology journals when you really don’t. Notice how mean-spirited and derogatory I was when I said that?
Wait a minute.
I wasn’t being particularly mean-spirited at all. No, I was simply saying one thing while meaning the opposite. So wait, was that irony or sarcasm? Wait, what the hell is irony again?
…
Oh no.
…
No!
…
NO!!!!
i remember that comment that includes the word ‘cute’, and I remember also that I responded to you and that comment by saying I did not like you any longer. you know why I said that. because I had no idea what the hell you were talking about, and that someone, not to mention your ex girlfriend, had said that before.
I like your commenting on the article. you may have missed the ending. Someone mentioned that at least one comment had been deleted, and why. then I explained why i thought why since it was my comment that was disappeared, but I explained it in a way that i thought it was appropriate to delete it and that the boss can do whatever he wants to do, and that because of him the site is also great? Well, the boss then deleted everything, including the question. Tired now. Best, KATRIN
Oh, did you real the new article on Depression and Evolution by Dr. Grohol? “Very Impressive!”..and yes, i am being sarcastic but not mean spirited!
Matt, this may not be the right place but where else? I was published on PsychCentral, and I would like to know what you think of the story. problem is, that nobody would ever, ever see it, or know about it unless I pointed to the dark corner in the attic? Here’s the link and you don’t have to read it, of course, or get back to me about it. Kat PS: and I don’t get published that often, if you know what I mean?
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/ordinary-heroes/