6 Ways to Detect Sarcasm
1. When someone says something that you know is not true in response to a posed question.
Example:
Q: “Did you talk about that thing that EVERYBODY is talking about?”
A: “No we were completely silent the whole time.”
This involves the use of a rarely mentioned and rarely invoked organ called the brain. The Kaplan SAT strategy is to predict an answer when you hear a question. If the answer is as obvious as it is in this case, and the answer is different than you predicted, then there just might be a slight chance you should consider that crazy thing called sarcasm as being behind the response.
2. When a person acts completely out of character, or acts completely different than would be expected.
Example:
Q: “We just broke up after dating for eight months, during which time we had talked about getting married.”
A: “You know, I’m totally fine, and have never been happier.”
While there are exceptions to every rule, the odds are that the person answering this question would be upset. Again, a little brain power is needed, but the amount necessary is theoretically present in all of us-assuming that you are not one of those exceptions to the rule. If the response is given with a narrow eyed smile and a high pitched giggle, you might consider sarcasm for a minute, keeping in mind that those are not standard responses.
3. When you yourself pose an obvious question.
Example:
Person A: I was in the polar plunge this year.
Person B: Was it cold?
Person A: No, it was scorching hot.
This may require a little more work than the others so far. You have to go to a dictionary and find the definition of the word polar to make sure that the people who determine the definitions of words have not changed “polar” to mean “hot.” Once you’ve seen that polar still does, in fact, relate to “frigid,” your question most likely will be answered for you.
4. When a person talks like you or acts like you, but in a grossly exaggerated manner.
Example:
Jeff: OH MY GAWD, I WENT TO THE SAND FLATS AND IT WAS AMAZING!!11 WE GOT STUCK AND IT WAS SOOOOO COOL!
If you think that Jeff really went to the sand flats, please go near oncoming traffic and don’t jump out into the street until you see a steamroller. While there are some people who make references to their exhilaration at going to the sand flats, they most likely would not speak of it in such a fashion. This is one sarcastic action that the person imitated usually realizes is intended as sarcasm, though the reason for this is unknown.
5. When you are complimented after an embarrassing failure.
Example:
Person A sits at the piano, plays 50% of the notes wrong, plays too fast, stops in the middle of the piece, and breaks down and cries on the bench.
Backstage, person B says: “That was really good.”
This is another one of those times where the dictionary is handy. Good is defined as “not bad or poor” and “being positive and desirable in nature.” Then, you have to question whether the performance was “not bad or poor.” If you’re a complete idiot, you could look up “bad” or “poor” but we’re going to hope that that is unnecessary. The performance was not desirable, was bad, and was poor, so unless you want the world to know just how low your standards are, laugh that “compliment” off or punch the guy in the face.
6. Written sarcasm.
Wikipedia had this to say:
Because it is vocally-oriented, sarcasm can be difficult to grasp in written form and is easily misinterpreted. To prevent this some people end sarcastic comments on the Internet with an emoticon, emphasize words with italics, bold, and/or underlining (e.g. That's just great =/), or surround them with a made-up markup language tag, e.g. *sarcasm*.
Another transformation of sarcasm into electronic mediums is only possible through written language. Using extremely poor typing in a sentence, one can indicate that the holder of a certain opinion is unintelligent or overly eager. For example: "but teh bias!!!11!1!one" This written slang is especially popular in internet forums. Sarcasm is also achievable through written language by using capitalization to emphasize certain words. For example: "Well isn't THAT just fantastic".
When in doubt as to whether a person is being sarcastic or not, it is most likely the former. Sarcasm can be a tricky presence, as you never quite know whether it’s there or not. I sincerely hope that this entry will help you grasp the concept of sarcasm that is so alien to us all. Sarcasm, though sometimes difficult to detect, will undoubtedly arise in future conversations you will have. So if you often find yourself unsure about a questionable response, or everyone else is laughing at a comment you find to be confusing, study this list well.
”There is no such thing as an underestimate of average intelligence.”
-Henry Adams
Note: For any of you that are going to come up with some moronic reason that any of the "sarcastic responses" might actually be correct or meant literally, please refrain from doing so.
Example:
Q: “Did you talk about that thing that EVERYBODY is talking about?”
A: “No we were completely silent the whole time.”
This involves the use of a rarely mentioned and rarely invoked organ called the brain. The Kaplan SAT strategy is to predict an answer when you hear a question. If the answer is as obvious as it is in this case, and the answer is different than you predicted, then there just might be a slight chance you should consider that crazy thing called sarcasm as being behind the response.
2. When a person acts completely out of character, or acts completely different than would be expected.
Example:
Q: “We just broke up after dating for eight months, during which time we had talked about getting married.”
A: “You know, I’m totally fine, and have never been happier.”
While there are exceptions to every rule, the odds are that the person answering this question would be upset. Again, a little brain power is needed, but the amount necessary is theoretically present in all of us-assuming that you are not one of those exceptions to the rule. If the response is given with a narrow eyed smile and a high pitched giggle, you might consider sarcasm for a minute, keeping in mind that those are not standard responses.
3. When you yourself pose an obvious question.
Example:
Person A: I was in the polar plunge this year.
Person B: Was it cold?
Person A: No, it was scorching hot.
This may require a little more work than the others so far. You have to go to a dictionary and find the definition of the word polar to make sure that the people who determine the definitions of words have not changed “polar” to mean “hot.” Once you’ve seen that polar still does, in fact, relate to “frigid,” your question most likely will be answered for you.
4. When a person talks like you or acts like you, but in a grossly exaggerated manner.
Example:
Jeff: OH MY GAWD, I WENT TO THE SAND FLATS AND IT WAS AMAZING!!11 WE GOT STUCK AND IT WAS SOOOOO COOL!
If you think that Jeff really went to the sand flats, please go near oncoming traffic and don’t jump out into the street until you see a steamroller. While there are some people who make references to their exhilaration at going to the sand flats, they most likely would not speak of it in such a fashion. This is one sarcastic action that the person imitated usually realizes is intended as sarcasm, though the reason for this is unknown.
5. When you are complimented after an embarrassing failure.
Example:
Person A sits at the piano, plays 50% of the notes wrong, plays too fast, stops in the middle of the piece, and breaks down and cries on the bench.
Backstage, person B says: “That was really good.”
This is another one of those times where the dictionary is handy. Good is defined as “not bad or poor” and “being positive and desirable in nature.” Then, you have to question whether the performance was “not bad or poor.” If you’re a complete idiot, you could look up “bad” or “poor” but we’re going to hope that that is unnecessary. The performance was not desirable, was bad, and was poor, so unless you want the world to know just how low your standards are, laugh that “compliment” off or punch the guy in the face.
6. Written sarcasm.
Wikipedia had this to say:
Because it is vocally-oriented, sarcasm can be difficult to grasp in written form and is easily misinterpreted. To prevent this some people end sarcastic comments on the Internet with an emoticon, emphasize words with italics, bold, and/or underlining (e.g. That's just great =/), or surround them with a made-up markup language tag, e.g. *sarcasm*.
Another transformation of sarcasm into electronic mediums is only possible through written language. Using extremely poor typing in a sentence, one can indicate that the holder of a certain opinion is unintelligent or overly eager. For example: "but teh bias!!!11!1!one" This written slang is especially popular in internet forums. Sarcasm is also achievable through written language by using capitalization to emphasize certain words. For example: "Well isn't THAT just fantastic".
When in doubt as to whether a person is being sarcastic or not, it is most likely the former. Sarcasm can be a tricky presence, as you never quite know whether it’s there or not. I sincerely hope that this entry will help you grasp the concept of sarcasm that is so alien to us all. Sarcasm, though sometimes difficult to detect, will undoubtedly arise in future conversations you will have. So if you often find yourself unsure about a questionable response, or everyone else is laughing at a comment you find to be confusing, study this list well.
”There is no such thing as an underestimate of average intelligence.”
-Henry Adams
Note: For any of you that are going to come up with some moronic reason that any of the "sarcastic responses" might actually be correct or meant literally, please refrain from doing so.