Sarcasm 10

[EngAP]

After browsing these forums for a while I have noticed a lot of sarcasm in answers. Maybe some questioners desevre it for posting questions that a little hard work would solve but I have also seen it widespread in response to very good questions/answers.

As an example I recently replied to a thread with an answer that I obtained directly from a data/spec sheet, with my response drawing a sarcastic reply from another poster suggesting I was incorrect. However it is by no means limited to to that thread - I have noticed it in threads where I am in no way involved in the discussions.

I do not see the reason for it, other than for the "sarcasmee" to feel like a bigger person.

It may be a misunderstanding of cultural differences as these formums have no national limits but I see it as genuine bad manners.

I would be interested in others' opinions on the matter.

 

[hokie66]

I enjoy making someone the target of my sarcasm, and equally enjoy receiving it. But I try to adhere to the rule of only being sarcastic to my friends or others who I know also enjoy it. For instance, my wife doesn't like my brand of sarcasm, so I try not to subject her to it. Sometimes slip up, and it costs me. The same rule might apply on this site. After a while, you get a sense of those who accept sarcasm well and those who don't. Probably best not to use it on new contributors.

 

[GregLocock]

Further research suggests that the phrase I used doesn't appear to have any particular provenence, although that old wowser Carlyle expressed a similar thought "Sarcasm I now see to be, in general the language of the devil".

Wilde seems to pop up as a possible source, if so he was probably being ironic.

I must admit I don't much like the longer version you use, sarcasm is supposed to hurt (it is derived from Ancient Greek for "to bite or rend").



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[KENAT]

Greg, thinking about it some more the second part is usually a retort to someone saying the first part.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[EngAP]

I think my question came across as a moan rather than a question. I hoped it would start off a debate (which it seems to have done, although mnostly one sided against myself!). I am not offended myself as I am more than capable of replying to any sarcasm if I were inclined.

I have found these forums helpful and do not intend to not read them just because some people are sarcastic. I just sense a slight level of hostility in debates and was interested in others' opinions.

KENAT - I am not particularly offended, I just do not see the reason for the comments. It takes someone time and effort to post a sarcastic response when no response would provide as good an answer and would have saved the person (and company?!? time and money).

IRStuff - I agree, I should have stated "sarcasmer". I also agree with lazy questions don't deserve good answers but I have seen very good questions met with sarcastic/rude responses. And for any novice in a field, a question they feel is a good one may seem trivial for an expert.

RARMBJ - I agree.

BigInch, csd72, civilperson, GregLocock - I have not found anything offensive, I am wondering the reason behind the tone of the replies. I have seen it quite a lot and noticed it hadn't been mentioned before so I thought I'd bring it up.

 

[GregLocock]

Obvious reason, we are professionals, we are busy, we want a high signal to noise ratio. We participate here voluntarily, on the expectation that other participants are here not trying to waste our time or expend our time /in preference/ to theirs.

So if we see a clueless question, we tend to respond less than politely.

You can rest assured that if you turned up to my desk and persistently acted in a clueless time-wasting fashion the response would be FAR beyond anything you see here.




Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[EngAP]

That is my point - if someone is busy then wy waste time replying when not replying at all would save even more time?

 

[GregLocock]

signal to noise ratio. Please pay attention.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[patprimmer]

Because it might discourage another time wasting question.

The replies you seem to object to often give me a good laugh, so even if wasted on the OP, hey may be of value to the others who wasted the time to open a useless thread.

Sometimes it is used as a little pain to reinforce the point of a lesson. Painful lessons are the ones we remember most.

Brits and Aussies seem to be much more cruel and accepting of linguistic cruelty than Americans.

The other side of the coin is, when I see overly polite language, I immediately suspect the sincerity and integrity of the poster.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[patprimmer]

Ummm

On investigation, it seems I might actually be the sarcasticer in question. Sorry Greg I was ready to credit it to you or Issac.

Ops there I go again with a sarcastic ummm.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[EngAP]

Patprimmer - I am not directing this at any particular person, that was just a small example I highlighted. I am interested in the general tone of a lot of replies. I was not offended by your remarks and, as you can see, I had the technical information to back up my reply to the questioner.

I would also be interested to know whether this is typical of conversations in the work place. My company has a good atmosphere so I do not tend to come across much rudeness, however I would be interested in others' experiences.

 

[ewh]

Here's a thread pertaining to this subject (if you are so inclined):

Favourite funny answers to threads
thread1088-219172

Perhaps it should have been titled "Favourite sarcastic answers to threads"?


When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - [small]Thomas Jefferson [/small]

 

[patprimmer]

EngAP

In fact you didn't have the data to back it up as you will see.

I us that sort of technique in the hope that people will react to themselves with a Duhhh, I should check my facts or think more before I shoot my mouth of. A bit ofa sting does make us more cautious in future.

I do use such methods in the work place and accept such being used against me. In fact if I discover my mistake myself, I will take the P*** from myself. Like I said earlier, I think it is a British/Aussie thing.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[MadMango]

EngAP, every good team or close group of people I have ever worked with freely exchanged sarcasm, crude humor and cynicism. We also knew when we had to reel it in. If I am hit with sarcasm, it makes me rethink what I said or posted, as it acts as a warning flag to let me know that I overlooked something or missed a data point. Much like Pat though, those that didn't partake in the verbal jousting were scrutinized to some degree.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[KENAT]

pat, I think you're right about the Brit/Aussie thing. Though that said I got the impression the OP may be a Brit.

Funny thing is although everything here in my part of the US workplace is more PC (or whatever you want to term it) the place back in the UK where you could excpect the kind of sarcasm EngAP doesn't like was a much better work place overall. If someone was being an idiot you pretty much told them (be it in the form of sarcasm) that, but (with the odd exception) no one took it personal. Here I waste so much time sugar coating stuff rather than just coming out with it.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[HgTX]

KENAT, that's because you're in the polite west. Try New York.

Hg

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[patprimmer]

HG

I have to admit when dealing with Americans, I find New Yorkers easier to understand re both accent and culture.

When dealing with Brits I find it easier culturally dealing with Northerners, Scotts and Irish or even Cornish rather than SE.

I agree very much with what Kenat has said.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[melone]

Typing a sacastic response will only increase the noise for the thread. The most effective tool in increase the s/n ratio is to effectively use the Red Flag.

 

[csd72]

pat/KENAT,

I do find some brits are overly sensitive to these things, my wife included.

 

[HgTX]

I have trouble here in the polite south. Not just because I am rude and boorish (most of my childhood & adolescence in the NYC metro area) but because there are aspects of their "politeness" that I would file under, dare I say ummmmm, "lying".

Regarding s/n ratio, a slapdown response may give other well-meaning posters pause before they start contributing to a thread that is already (or deserves to be) in the RF process, and if the thread is not deleted the slapdown may serve as a warning to other useless posters (though the worst of the useless posters won't have bothered looking through prior threads).

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[monkeydog]

KENAT,
What's the deal, you have no star.
Usually you get a star just for showing up.