SARCASM!

“By all means, move at a glacial pace; you know how that thrills me.” —Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada

Meryl Streep brims with shade, sarcasm, and sinister wit as fashion magazine commander Miranda Priestly, the quintessential nightmare boss who demands perfection. Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt play the assistants who receive verbal jabs as they try and fail to meet expectations.

Sarcastic people are everywhere! Sarcasm is the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.

When I was young and gullible, I did not understand sarcasm. I was oblivious when a person made a sarcastic statement. I was often confused by the statement, and instead of letting it go, I got embarrassed and attempted to respond, making a fool out of myself.

Those snarky comments often hurt my feelings, which affected my self-image. I was easily embarrassed, and because I had little social interaction in my childhood, I was unaccustomed to crude comments. I didn’t realize that I was being made fun of.

In junior high (I know I am showing my age because now it is middle school.) I was relentlessly bullied. Looking back, their comments about my clothes, appearance, and lack of coordination were mostly sarcasm. They would sit behind me on the bus and continuously poked me. When I was walking home, they would follow and call me names and make fun of me. In those days, I had no confidence and allowed that behavior to continue. Today, I would tell them to back off.

You may be unsure of when you are hearing some sarcastic statements. Below are some examples of snarky comments:

· That mustard stain really compliments your blonde hair.

· Just great! (When someone runs into you)

· Love this weather. (When the weather is actually horrible)

· Oh, he’s the best. (Talking about someone who actually annoys you.)

Some statements made are crude such as:

· I like you. You remind me of me when I was young and stupid.

· How about never? Is never good for you?

· I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.

· Well, aren’t we a bloody ray of sunshine?

· I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

· It sounds like English, but I can’t understand your words.

Today, I am still awkward when someone makes a sarcastic comment, but I am wiser. I have a very dry sense of humor and sometimes come back with an equally sarcastic remark. (Making those comments are not my greatest moment!)

What is a reasonable response to a sarcastic comment?

· Response #1: Answer them literally. (Make them uncomfortable)

· Response #2: Ignore them (and maybe throw some compassion their way).

· Response #3: Label real feelings and follow up with sincere questions.

· Response #4: Give some free advice.

Sarcasm can be hurtful. I have learned that you must grow a thick skin and let those comments roll off your back. I don’t want the person to know how it affected me. If the comment really upsets me, I write in my journal.

The lesson you can learn this week is to think before speaking!

Good Luck – Have a Great Week..