Title: What Does Being Sarcastic Say About You? | Pete Wilson
Headings: What Does Being Sarcastic Say About You?
What Does Being Sarcastic Say About You?
Content: Researchers say that recognition of sarcasm is a sign of intelligence in children. It’s an awfully nuanced means of communication—too nuanced, in fact, to be used as freely as we do. What Do You Mean? You’ve probably heard it said, “I can’t always tell when you’re being real and when you’re being sarcastic.” Perhaps because the line between “real” and “joking” isn’t as thick as we usually think. John Haiman, a linguist at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., says people who use sarcasm are rarely just kidding. The words come from an authentic place, but it’s wrapped up as a joke for protection. Essentially, sarcasm is a survival technique for the insecure. It’s used to make yourself appear to be stronger or better, but it’s not said with enough seriousness for anyone to accuse you of being a jerk. Another interesting finding of Haiman’s study: