So they say you're sarcastic, huh? Do people get offended by certain (brilliant) comments you make? Have you ever been viewed as rude? If so, don't fret. You're not alone. The art of sarcasm is a difficult topic to discuss, mostly because not everyone is graced with such a saucy personality. It's something you're born with, and not all people can fluidly respond with sarcasm rolling off their tongue like a whip. But you can. Congratulations. As someone who has been described as "aggressively sarcastic" I can tell you firsthand that although I think I'm hilarious, (and rightfully so) not everyone agrees. In fact, being overly sarcastic has caused people to classify me as "mean" and even "judgmental." However, what most of these silly-sallys don't understand is that overly sarcastic people are not serious in the comments they make, in fact, they don't take most things seriously at all.
Sarcastic people enjoy playful banter. We like being able to exercise our brains in such a way as to underline the irony in our current situation and address it subtly. We enjoy self-deprecating humor and don't mind making fun of ourselves. Due to our own insensitivity, we sometimes forgot that yes, other people do have feelings! A sarcastic person will often turn their caustic tongue on others, forgetting that they may view this as an attack rather than a joke. I am guilty of this daily, and I normally don't even know when I've offended someone (oops). Although my close friends have learned to love and expect these mockeries from me, being sarcastic definitely has its ups and downs. Since other people realize you have this trait, it's hard for them to take what you say seriously.
The other day I was listening to a young man discuss a class he was very intrigued about. He went on an on about the topic in depth, and his excitement was contagious. I sat and listened, nodding occasionally and smiling like the sugary-warm person I’ve trained myself to be in situations like these. At the end of his monologue I said, "Wow. That's super interesting," and he instantly replied with, "Oh my gosh. That was the most sarcastic thing I've ever heard!" Ironically, I was actually being genuine. But of course, no one knows that sarcastic people can achieve this level of emotional depth because clearly, we don't have souls.
On the other hand, being sarcastic can also have awesome perks. People always come to you when they are looking for a good laugh, and you truly do know how to cheer someone up. You have a reputation for telling it like it is and for using dry humor to make even the most mundane occurrences satirically comical. And the best part? If some brave soul decides to join in on your fun by taking a jab at you, they know you won't be offended in the slightest. And how could you be? It's not like you blame them for making fun of you, because we both know you're just dying to do the same to them.
