Sure, it is. If someone does not agree, do I really care? So there. ‘T’ asked my daughter to order a t-shirt for me from Amazon.
The shirt has a clever quote on the front – ‘My people skills are just fine. It’s my tolerance to idiots that needs work’. My wife thinks the shirt is politically incorrect and may be offensive.
I told her it may offend idiots, but they probably won’t understand it anyway — so no harm done. As long as I can remember, I have been accused of having a mean streak in me.
I call a spade a spade or sometimes a bloody shovel — depending on where my sarcasm meter is at time. And this causes my wife great anxiety. She often asks me why I have to be so mean. I do not believe I am mean.
Witty maybe, but certainly not mean. James Napoli, the EVP of the National Sarcastic Society (yes, there is an organisation like that) has written a book called The Official Dictionary of Sarcasm.
The premise of this book is that those who appreciate sarcasm are a rare breed, driven by two forces — to provoke and to seek the truth. Here is an example. Bottled Water – tap water made more palatable by a label with a mountain on it.
You have no desire to be popular and ever ready to puncture the balloon of hypocrisy like Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was the only politician in Fiji with an acerbic wit and his deadly repartees went over most politicians’ heads and it was not because they were height challenged.
He had the ability to tell the Opposition to go to hell in such a way that they looked forward to the trip.
He certainly made the Parliament sessions worth watching — a refreshing oasis in the dull drab desert of monotony. British politicians seem to have a monopoly on wit.
Here is an example: “You, sir, will certainly either die upon the gallows or of a social disease.”
“That, Sir, would depend on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress.”
Some people think that sarcasm shows weakness, but who gives a crap what they think?! I believe that sarcasm is actually a sign of intellect.
Oscar Wilde wrote: “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence.’ I disagree with his first assertion I think sarcastic people are smarter — there’s even some scientific merit to this claim.
One study from 2015, in Scientific American, found that sarcasm can actually increase creativity flow. You have to be pretty clever to whip up a sarcastic comment on the spot.
I used to come up with pretty savvy quips rendered with effortless ease when I MCed the Toastmasters Humorous Speech contests in the US. Now when we watch some events, the MCs are so boring that my wife thinks I could have done a 100 times better and made the events memorable.
My modesty would make me think that my wife was too effusive in her praise.
A 100 times better. Nah … maybe 99 times The Greek root for sarcasm is sarkazein, which translates into “to tear flesh,” as dogs do.
So it’s understandable why sarcasm is associated with hostility and contempt. But nothing is further from the truth. I do it with no malice. If you watch F.R.IE.N.D.S., you see how sarcasm drips whenever Chandler Bing opens his mouth.
Chandler is known for his wit and quick retorts. Here is an example Chandler: “I’m glad we’re having a rehearsal dinner. I rarely practice my meals before I eat.” We’re often sarcastic without even realising it.
My sarcasm is somewhat like that of Dr. House when it comes to brooding and deadpan sarcasm, Dr. House is the master.
Here’s is a small peek into his personality. He hates birthdays. Dr. House: ‘Ah, my birthday. Normally, I’d put on a festive hat and celebrate the fact that the Earth circled the Sun one more time.
I really didn’t think it was going to make it this year. But, darn it if it wasn’t ‘the little planet that could’ all over again.”
Sarcastic statements require mental gymnastics of sorts, seemingly exercising the brain more than normal statements would do.
When I am on the stage, my mind is racing at a 100 MPH thinking of a smart response. In a 2015 study, college students listened in on complaints to a company’s customer service line; when the complaints were framed as sarcastic quips, the students were able to come up with more creative solutions to the problems.
Because the brain must think creatively to understand or convey a sarcastic comment, sarcasm may lead to more creative thinking.
This explains how sarcasm can make the brain sharper. I am not a phony and would not pretend to be like someone.
If I always show the world a mask, someday there will be nothing beneath it. If we spend too much time focusing on what everyone thinks of us (some people are thrilled to get ‘likes’ on FB for their inane posts), we eventually forget who you really are.
So don’t fear the judgment of others; you know who you are. You don’t have to be perfect to impress and inspire people.
“The Japanese say you have three faces. The first face, you show to the world. The second face, you show to your close friends, and your family. The third face, you never show anyone. It is the truest reflection of who you are”.
So essentially most of us are hypocrites. I have one only face — what you see is what you get.
Consequently, I have offended people by being honest and frank. If I sound sarcastic, I am OK with that. I asked my wife to proof-read this before I sent it for publication. She said some people may find it offensive.
At that exact moment, I saw another shirt which had this quote, ‘If you find me offensive, I suggest you quit finding me.’ Coincidence? I think not.
