How would you "teach" sarcasm to someone?

1. 75

   lydociaposted 13 years ago

   How would you "teach" sarcasm to someone?
   
   I have this friend, she does not understand sarcasm. She asked me to point it out, to help her grasp it and understand it, and use it herself - but I have no idea how to start. I told her, "Turn it around, and if it makes more sense that way, it is probably sarcasm", but her logic does not seem to agree. Any suggestions?

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2. 85

   BWD316posted 13 years ago

   trial and error might work, just keep using it with her and pointing out afterwards the sarcastic points, i feel sarcasm is more of an art lol, its really hard to teach

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3. 61

   tobey100posted 13 years ago

   Veeerrrryyy sssllllloooowwwwllllyyyy!  See boys and girls.  That's sarcasm.

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4. 72

   mobiasposted 13 years ago

   Seriously, where is your friend from? Is english a second language? Are they an engineer, or a high level surgeon? A Librarian? My mother-in-law?
   
   Sigh, I can't imagine not understanding sarcasm, It would be like a gigantic social joke that was lost on you.
   
   I would say something like: Sometimes saying the opposite of something, makes it funnier...because it is usually very obvious that it is the extreme opposite...but there are other forms of sarcasm.
   
   You can offer, the other reason people use sarcasm is to show their contempt, or disrespect, or even their doubt for another. It comes into play heavily when two parties have a difference of opinion, or point of view. This is why we see it between comedians and politicians, or between siblings or close friends...and especially enemies.
   
   -From Dictionary.com:
   sar·casm? ?/?s?rkæz?m/  Show Spelled[sahr-kaz-uhm] 
   noun
   1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
   2. a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark: a review full of sarcasms.

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