On a site where everyone is a native English speaker you would be right, but this is not that kind of site.

 

Let's not get all condescending for the sake of our non-native english speakers, praticularly since it probably does not help them anyway. Besids, what's the point of being sarcastic if you need to tell people you're doing it????

 

If one can't convey sarcasm in his writing, then he should avoid it altogether.

I can convey sarcasm in a way that almost everyone who grew up speaking English can see the irony. But for everybody else, all bets are off. I love sarcasm and I'm not going to stop just because not everybody gets it.

. Besids, what's the point of being sarcastic if you need to tell people you're doing it????

Yeah it does take some fun out of it when you have to announce sarcasm. But it's even less fun having to do damage control when someone doesn't get it.

 

Used when appropriate and in good taste and proportion, it can be an effective way to communicate. It should be used rarely and with discretion. I would focus on using it well, and not overusing it, rather than how to delineate it in writing.

 

You're in the wrong room. This is the sarcasm room.

Apparently there are none rom room or space for sarcasm on this forum

 

I think notating all sarcasm will be a fantastic idea. That way all of our global members who speak English as a second language will understand our sarcasm. It will also help me understand the off topic conversations because I am a dunderhead and am often unjustifyably offended by the posts of my peers until days later when I realize it was sarcasm. I also feel the humor, fun and thoughtfulness of sarcasm is overrated. I would much rather be told when a joke is coming. In fact, I laugh hadest when I know the punchline before the joke is even told. That is why I think the [sac] [/sac] idea is fantastic.

Another addition that will be just as helpful is a mandatory metric conversion. Our international friends have no idea what we are talking about when we mention horse power, feet, inches, pounds (not the British Currency), acres, or BTUs. Could you imagine the terror caused by reading a post about heat sinks and the American posters are saying anything below 150 is fine - and they think it is in Celsius? How many components have been damaged because of our lack of international/multicultural understanding?

Finally, at least for this post, I think we should go all the way and mak sure any reference to Americana should include a link to the corresponding Wikipedia article. For example, when someone realizes that modern PICs have on board oscillators and a second poster says, 'we are not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy", then we should add a link to the wizard of oz Wikipedia page. This will be no effort at all. Imagine how much clearer all sports analogies will become. This site will be so much fun if we make all of these improvements.
[/sac].

 

Just one objection, B.T.U means British Thermal Unit. I think the Brits can understand that one.

 

I think notating all sarcasm will be a fantastic idea. That way all of our global members who speak English as a second language will understand our sarcasm. It will also help me understand the off topic conversations because I am a dunderhead and am often unjustifyably offended by the posts of my peers until days later when I realize it was sarcasm. I also feel the humor, fun and thoughtfulness of sarcasm is overrated. I would much rather be told when a joke is coming. In fact, I laugh hadest when I know the punchline before the joke is even told. That is why I think the [sac] [/sac] idea is fantastic.

Another addition that will be just as helpful is a mandatory metric conversion. Our international friends have no idea what we are talking about when we mention horse power, feet, inches, pounds (not the British Currency), acres, or BTUs. Could you imagine the terror caused by reading a post about heat sinks and the American posters are saying anything below 150 is fine - and they think it is in Celsius? How many components have been damaged because of our lack of international/multicultural understanding?

Finally, at least for this post, I think we should go all the way and mak sure any reference to Americana should include a link to the corresponding Wikipedia article. For example, when someone realizes that modern PICs have on board oscillators and a second poster says, 'we are not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy", then we should add a link to the wizard of oz Wikipedia page. This will be no effort at all. Imagine how much clearer all sports analogies will become. This site will be so much fun if we make all of these improvements.
[/sac].

[sac]Did you just sac after the first paragraph?[/sac]

 

...
Another addition that will be just as helpful is a mandatory metric conversion. Our international friends have no idea what we are talking about when we mention horse power, feet, inches, pounds (not the British Currency), acres, or BTUs.
...

You're forgetting the most important American measuring units; jumbo jets, bull elephants, empire state buildings, football fields, olympic swimming pools, bowling balls etc.

There's no point watching an American science documentary if you don't understand the U.S. measurement units.

 

Another addition that will be just as helpful is a mandatory metric conversion. Our international friends have no idea what we are talking about when we mention horse power, feet, inches, pounds (not the British Currency), acres, or BTUs. Could you imagine the terror caused by reading a post about heat sinks and the American posters are saying anything below 150 is fine - and they think it is in Celsius? How many components have been damaged because of our lack of international/multicultural understanding?

Some day the rest of the world will finally come to the realization that we have it right after all.[sar]

 

How true. It's a pest. Can't afford to lose another Mars orbiter!

 

Just one objection, B.T.U means British Thermal Unit. I think the Brits can understand that one.

Yes, they are the population I was most concerned about when it comes to understanding sarcasm (in English).

 

How true. It's a pest. Can't afford to lose another Mars orbiter!

Wait, was that sarcasm or a real criticism of NASA? I mean, the NATIONAL AERONAUTICS and SPACE ADMINISTRATION (of the United States of America).

 

Yes, they are the population I was most concerned about when it comes to understanding sarcasm (in English).

Yes, two peoples separated by a common language!

As my French wife is always reminding me, 'you can always tell an Englishman, But Not Much'!
Max.

 

It's claimed an Irishman coined the phrase "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence".

Some here at AAC are seemingly equating sarcasm with irony. There's a not too subtle difference in terms of the intent.

Like it or not, sarcasm overused in the workplace could land one in trouble in my country - with the "offender" explaining why their "harmless" but cleverly contrived comments / taunts weren't tantamount to bullying.

I can see some use for sarcasm on a site such as AAC. It's probably a more sophisticated alternative to seemingly justifiable outright abuse. Unfortunately those deemed to be worthy recipients of sarcasm (trolls etc.) might fail to grasp the subtlety....

 

As an aside. In my country we use (,) as decimal sign and not(.). That have caused a lot of nasty problems in different types of CAD/ECAD systems. Many years ago. I had to give in and consistent set decimal to (.) on every computer with native Windows version.

 

Yes, they are the population I was most concerned about when it comes to understanding sarcasm (in English).

As one wag put it ...

Sarcasm is to the British, what Sincerity is to the Americans. and it's easily proved. Just say "Have a nice day!"

 

I guess the sarcasm font would be harder to implement than I thought..
Ya'll raise valid points I hadn't thought of.

 

Here's a thought. When you get ready to post, just title your message "Sarcasm" as done here. If you're going to be a douche, go all the way

 

Perhaps we also should include a rant switch [RANT][/RANT]. The problem is how to use this switch then you feel the urge to rant about ranters

I feel that urge often. So far, I've managed to hold back.