Sarcasm can be tricky. It\u2019s hilarious when done right, but miss the mark and it can really sting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like \u201cSmooth move,<\/em>\u201d when you spill your drink, \u201cBright idea, Einstein<\/em>\u201d when you make a poor suggestion, or \u201cGet enough sleep?<\/em>\u201d when you\u2019re late to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve noticed yourself getting a little snide, cynical, or hurtful when you\u2019re stressed, this article explains what\u2019s going on inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll show you why (and when) a little snarky humor can be helpful at times, and how to hold back when it\u2019s just not the moment for that comment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If sarcasm is so risky, why do we use it at all? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarcasm is fascinating to us communication specialists \u2013 when we say what we don\u2019t <\/em>mean on purpose, it\u2019s hard to predict our impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Precisely because it\u2019s so fascinating, scientists at Harvard and Columbia Universities have actually studied its use, revealing some interesting pros and cons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the plus side, being sarcastic can sometimes make us appear more self-assured, even pleasantly familiar with our colleagues. Especially when we use it in place of obvious, perhaps straightforward feedback, when it makes us seem witty or clever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It can even encourage more abstract thinking, perhaps (experts believe) because we have to think creatively to interpret the speaker\u2019s meaning. Take \u201cGet enough sleep?\u201d <\/em>as an example – if you\u2019re unsure what the speaker means, don\u2019t all kinds of possibilities run through your brain? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The trick is thoughtfulness and trust. To leverage its creative advantages while staying on the right side of others, we need to: <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Case For Positive Sarcasm <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n