Some people choose to be sarcastic because in today's world, if you punch someone, you end up in jail. Some believe that this is an emotional tool behind which you can hide your feelings. Others are convinced that sarcasm is an opportunity to insult idiots with impunity.

If you weren't born with irony, you should probably keep up with the times and finally start using your brain. To date, there are at least some serious studies that prove that sarcastic people are smarter than you think. We have selected 10 good reasons proving that they can rightfully be included in the category of intellectuals.

They see right through

According to research by Dr. Sheiman-Soori, a psychologist at the University of Haifa, “understanding the state of mind and emotions of others is directly related to our ability to understand sarcasm.” Yes, this means that sarcastic people are able to see through your true motives, no matter how hard you try to show off.

If they make an ironic remark in response to yours: "I'm late because ...", then they probably do not believe you. These comrades figure out secret urges quite easily and know which strings to press to evoke the emotions they need. This ability is akin to powerful telepathy. We have warned you.

They have a sharp mind

In an article Richard Chin wrote for the Smithsonian, he explained that the human brain has to work harder to understand sarcasm. This means that people who use irony train their intellect a little harder than you do. So the buddy who comes at you with biting taunts to taunt you may be an insolent, but a witty insolent.

They are great at problem solving.

The above article goes on to say that sarcasm also helps people be creative in problem solving. So if you expect the imminent end of the world, do not hesitate to write down the ironic person in your “Zombie Apocalypse Team”. He will surely save your life.

They have key social skills

John Hyman, a linguist at McAlester College in Minnesota, USA, is convinced that sarcasm is the main language of modern society. It is usually the ironic people who keep the conversation going, rather than standing shyly behind others, pretending to laugh at other people's jokes.

They not only have a thin mind, but also thick skin.

Sarcastic people are strong enough not to take things too personally. This means they won't burst into tears when you tease each other while being "warm" after a few beers at the bar. They can strike just as well as receive them. You rarely see them as a victim. And if you face the truth, few people like weaklings.

They have healthier brains

According to researchers at the University of California at San Francisco and neuropsychologist Katherine Rankin, the lack of ability to understand jokes can be an early sign of brain damage. In their work, they found that patients with frontotemporal dementia (dementia) showed difficulty understanding sarcasm.

They make their friends and loved ones smarter

Due to his special manner of communication, a sarcastic person affects the intelligence of others. Our brain has to go through 3 phases to understand a witty joke. If you are constantly surrounded by irony - when you watch TV, drive a car or shop - you train your mind a little more than other people.

Sarcastic friends and family are doing you a favor, so don't forget to thank them for it.

They settle scores but avoid arrest

In emotional warfare, they have no equal. If you've ever had an argument with a sarcastic person, you may still have scars on your heart from what he said. It definitely won't go to jail like aggravated assault, but the pain lasts much longer. Perhaps for the rest of your life.

They can subtly insult you, making you laugh at the same time.

Remarks like "I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian, but I can make an exception for you" really only sound good until you start thinking about it. Why, he's just mocking your lifestyle, and you should say "thank you" to him?

They can make someone laugh out loud at the spoken phrase, and then enjoy watching how people gradually realize that they have been insulted. If you haven't been in this situation yet, you should give it a try.

They have friends who really love them

Sarcastic people know for sure that their friends are real, because who else would agree to such a share of irony every day? Most likely, their buddies are just as witty. Together they have fun over the subtle insults that they bring to each other on a silver platter. They have such a funny hobby like playing baseball.

Sarcasm: what is it for the current generation? A way to humiliate the interlocutor or just to laugh witty, hiding your mockery well behind words that are incomprehensible to the “victim”? Recently, the special social activity of adolescents, the word "sarcasm" has lost itself, instead of it, the concept of "trolling" has come into use. But what is the true meaning of the word "sarcasm", when should it be used, and how is it different from trolling?

What is sarcasm

If you quote all the common truths, then this is the highest degree of irony. Sarcasm is a well-hidden mockery of an opponent. Just by insulting someone in plain text, you can feel like an outright boor or even cattle. But if you disguise your caustic expression in front of the interlocutor, express what you want to him and at the same time remain unnoticed, receiving only an awkward, barely smiling nod in response due to a misunderstanding of what was said, then there is no longer such a feeling that you are the last inhabitant of the most untidy local tavern. From here, answering the question of what sarcasm is, we can approach the main indispensable detail of such a mockery. Sarcasm is not just an opportunity to laugh at a person, it is the ability to express something negative in his face, hiding what was said in a kind of joke. It is absolutely merciless in nature, since it is designed to expose the opponent. Therefore, sarcasm is often harsh and does not “soften the corners”, sometimes even not weakly offending the interlocutor. This technique is very fond of using people from TV screens, namely the hosts of various shows, politicians, various stars and so on. Since the current generation has advanced quite a lot, it is now very fashionable to post sarcastic messages on personal micro-blogs on Twitter and Vkontakte. So, if we talk about what sarcasm is now, then this is often a way to humiliate a person in public, using their instant information dissemination capabilities (it is enough for a famous person to write just one tweet so that the entire Internet community is aware of the matter in the next few minutes).

The difference between the meanings of "sarcasm" and "trolling"

If you do not go into details, then these two concepts really strongly resemble each other, however, the new term (relatively) does not quite accurately convey the idea of ​​sarcasm. This enchanting taunt must be properly managed, because in some cases the opponent may simply be smarter, responding with a much stronger sarcastic expression. You should also think about whether you would like the interlocutor to understand the mockery, or do you need the other listeners to understand it? It is important. However, this does not matter if the "victim" does not know what sarcasm is, in which case the mockery will not come out interesting enough. Trolls use sarcasm as one of their main tools to mock and ridicule their "victims". They do it for no reason, often not with the aim of showing themselves smarter, and others - dumber - which is why sarcasm itself is needed - but only for humiliation and just for the sake of an argument from scratch. But be that as it may, sarcasm will always be alive, because although it does not carry anything positive in itself, however, it makes a person feel a little more pleasant when sarcastic expressions turn out to be really successful.

Sarcasm shows the sharpness of a person's mind. Sarcasm allows you to subtly make fun of politicians and other narrow-minded inhabitants. Sarcasm gives you self-satisfaction and helps you vent negative emotions.

What it is?

The scientific definition is:
“Sarcasm (Greek σαρκασμ?ς, from σαρκ?ζω, literally “to tear [meat]”) is one of the types of satirical exposure, caustic mockery, the highest degree of irony, based not only on the increased contrast of the implied and expressed, but also on the immediate intentional exposure of the implied"

Agree, this definition is too "dry" and does not give answers to many questions. Sarcasm is a mockery of a person, object or phenomenon. Sarcasm is always negative. However, sarcasm is not just a caustic mockery, it is the ability to construct a sentence in such a way as not to openly declare one's disdain. Those. sarcasm is "veiled" ridicule.

For example:
If you are upset by the thinking abilities of a person, then you can tell him this:
"You, Ivan Ivanovich, are a complete idiot!" However, such a phrase sounds very hostile. Moreover, if Ivan Ivanovich is not your friend, but just an acquaintance, because friends will most likely perceive such a phrase as a subtle joke.
Or you can say this phrase in a different way, using the skill of speaking with sarcasm:
“Ivan Ivanovich, your mental skills amaze me with their unimaginable depth!”
How does it sound! Ivan Ivanovich will not understand what you are hinting at, but you will feel like a kind of tough guy.

Thus, we come to the main purpose of sarcasm. Sarcasm is the ability to tell people the bitter truth in the face, passing it off as a subtle joke.

Sarcasm is merciless! And therefore, sarcasm very often is not just incriminating, and sometimes even offensive. Sarcasm is used by politicians, show business stars and scientists with big names. And this means that both a good person and a bad person can use sarcasm.

Why is Sarcasm necessary?

Sarcasm is a verbal weapon. Sarcasm sounds witty, and therefore loved by people. Sarcasm can be obvious, or it can be veiled and understandable only to the speaker.

If you want to mock someone sarcastically, then correctly assess the mental abilities of your “victim”. Your interlocutor may be smarter than you, and therefore your sarcasm will be answered with even more cruel mockery, then you will lose "in your own field."

The main thing is to understand what goal you are pursuing using sarcasm. Do you want your interlocutor to understand your ridicule, or do you want to convey the essence of ridicule to third parties.

Psychologists say that sarcasm is a sign of a healthy mind. People often use sarcasm unconsciously. At the same time, comedians never use sarcasm. Sarcasm does not cause stormy joys and fun, like ordinary humor. Therefore, never use sarcasm in public, as politicians and other public figures do. It's like black PR. After all, almost any judgment can be used for a sarcastic response.

Sarcasm is often used by writers. Sarcasm received particular development during the development of Greek and Roman philosophy. Many philosophers have used sarcasm to ridicule totalitarian and stupid bureaucrats and rulers. Later, during the Renaissance, sarcasm received a vivid reflection both in literary works and in painting. Those mockeries that could not be expressed in words were expressed in pictures.

Sarcasm today

In the modern world, sarcasm has moved to the Internet. Almost everyone uses sarcasm on the Internet. Someone makes sarcastic memes, someone blogs, expressing their hatred in the form of sarcastic notes and entries.

Sarcasm on the Internet has gradually deformed. Sarcasm has turned into "trolling". Of course, trolling is not only sarcasm. People who engage in trolling are quite obviously called "trolls". The word "trolling" did not come from the word "troll", but from the word "trolling", which means "to fish with a lure." Trolls write provocative messages on the Internet, making others angry, furious, and also experience other warm feelings. The main weapon of the troll was and is sarcasm. The troll is easy to spot.

For example:
In a group (on a social network) dedicated to vegetarians, the troll will leave such sarcastic messages:
“Man must necessarily eat meat. It's so laid down by nature"
Or more subtly (subtle trolling):
“Scientists have done an experiment. They took two lions: one was fed with a small amount of meat, and the other with a large amount of vegetables. A week later, the vegetarian lion died.”

Conclusions and results

Sarcasm is a subtle sarcastic joke. Although sarcasm has a negative connotation, people will always use it. Sarcasm is the ability to show yourself as smart and others as stupid.

If you do not understand the essence of this article, then your mental skills do not meet adequate standards :)

Thanks for attention!

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The verbal weapon that a person uses to ridicule people, objects or phenomena is called sarcasm. If we choose a more precise definition, then sarcasm is a caustic mockery, an evil irony of the highest degree of a negative nature, with the help of which one can express the bitter truth in a veiled way.

Why do people use sarcasm?

The concept of sarcasm first appeared in the Greek language and literally meaning of the word translates as "tear flesh, meat." In English literature, the term was officially introduced by Edmund Spenser, and, after some time, took root in the Russian language. The ability to express yourself sarcastically is a sign of a healthy, sharp mind. Sarcastic tricks can be used for different purposes:

• To plunge the opponent into the highest degree of humiliation, veiled and viciously mocking his abilities or behavior.
• To demonstrate some of the opponent's vices or shortcomings to third parties, while simultaneously showing his intelligence and ability to use sarcasm.
• To ridicule phenomena, events in political and public life.

Sarcasm in literature, it is, most often, a poisonous mockery of the regime, power, and political situation. The technique was actively used by ancient philosophers to ridicule the existing totalitarian system, the stupidity of those in power, officials and the bureaucratic system.

Examples of the use of sarcasm.

Some examples of sarcasm:

• You look great, have you lost weight? (Phrase to a girl who has noticeably recovered).
• Are you going to get a job as a top manager in a large company? Good luck! (Implies the lack of competence of the applicant).
• Did he kill four? But he's connected! Do not be afraid, I will not offend him (Implies inadequate assessment of the situation, excessive precaution).
• I love people who write wrong. (The opposite is implied - “I hate” “I can’t stand”).
• Will your team take first place in the championship? If only from the end. (Implies the weakness of the interlocutor's team and failure in the fight for the championship).
• Spartak has been without trophies for so many years! But no, how could we forget the Copa del Sol (Implies a trophy in a friendly tournament in the off-season, which is not valued. Such trophies, as a rule, do not count at all).

Basic characteristics of sarcasm.

It is a mistake to think that sarcasm and irony are similar concepts. - this is a technique used by writers and comedians when the joke looks kind, not malicious or caustic. In fact, irony is the same mockery, but in a positive or comic way. What is the difference between sarcasm and irony:

• Merciless.
• Evil, caustic.
• Humiliating.
• mocking.
• stinging.
• Bitter.
• With a hint of hate.
• Indignant.

Sarcasm is the weapon of smart politicians, with which they successfully ridicule the actions of opponents in public. Using a similar technique, you can "put in place" a deceived upstart in a team, making a caustic emphasis on the mental or professional abilities of a person. The sarcastic expression should be used carefully so that the evil joke is at the same time aimed at the target and not expressed directly. In the modern world, sarcasm has taken a slightly different form - trolling. It combines negativity, topicality, caustic mockery and provocation.

Sarcasm is always ridicule and malicious banter, in which you can show yourself as an intelligent person, and those around you as impenetrable fools.

Sarcasm? Having asked this question to several of my friends, I received very similar answers - this is an indirect, veiled joke on the lack of another person. Indeed, why don’t you feed us with bread, we are drawn to “pin up” the interlocutor, while we ourselves are able to easily take offense at such manifestations in our direction?

Scientists have proven that sarcasm in moderation is useful, as it helps our brains work and distinguish humor from really negative attitudes towards our person.

What is sarcasm for those who constantly practice it? Probably, a way of self-expression, a way to rise, humiliating another, but at the same time looking not in the best light. Psychologists have already started talking here - they advise those who use this weapon constantly, and even several times a day, to be wary. For the most part, such people have complexes, they are not always satisfied with themselves, and so that no one else notices this, they act first. After all, as you know, the best defense is an attack.

The meaning of the word sarcasm is defined as follows - an evil grin aimed at enhancing the contrast between the caustic remark made and reality. By the way, on the Internet on forums, many write that this category is not always negative, sometimes it's fun and pleasant to play a trick on others, and both sides like this kind of mockery.

Of course, there are exceptions, especially when you are in a circle of close friends, about whom you know almost everything, you make fun of this or that episode from life - this is not a reason to classify yourself as a category of people about whom it was written above. For those, psychologists advise to look to the root and, possibly, turn to a specialist, because some, if they want to use evil language less, they simply cannot. So what is sarcasm? Some kind of bad habit.

Very often, irony and sarcasm are used in our speech as synonyms, but this is not true. We have already figured out what sarcasm is, but you need to understand how it differs from irony. Irony, as you know, is often found in literature, that is, it is a way to convey something absurd to the reader, but without exposing it in a negative light.

Of course, sarcasm is also used by writers, but in completely different genres. Many authors-publicists resort to this tool in their articles to expose reality, to reveal the truth, which may be hidden from readers.

By the way, recently on one radio station there was a show dedicated to the topic “Sarcasm - what is it?” In which people spoke ambiguously. I, as an author, am interested, of course, in a subjective opinion, but I liked the girl, based on specific facts, much more.

So, she said that in some study, our, domestic psychologists decided to recreate a certain situation in which people were subjected to various emotional tests. As a result, it turned out that they were sarcastic towards their "colleagues" in misfortune when their actions caused the strongest negative emotions.

Experts, based on this, concluded that often hatred is simply hidden behind the mask of sarcasm, which the source (person) tries to carefully disguise with a joke. It turns out that sarcasm is anger and negativity. But really, it’s worth thinking about, because we rather confuse the meaning of the word “sarcasm” in the circle of friends with the interpretation of irony. However, with less pleasant people we are sharp on the tongue. There is a grain of truth in the study.

Summarize. What is sarcasm, if not an evil grin aimed at emphasizing the shortcomings of another person? Probably a game of contrasts used by writers, politicians, presenters and many other public people to create a vivid and memorable speech. It is up to each of us to choose in what doses and for what purpose to use such a dangerous weapon, which, if used incorrectly, is fraught, if not with conflicts, at least with misunderstanding and hidden resentment.