Friday, June 29, 2007
who said "sarcasm" and "irony" enhanced communication?
Why is sarcasm the lowest form of wit?
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit since its aim is to belittle or hurt someone, and to laugh at their expense; we associate the word "cutting" with it. On the other hand, true wit associates with the word "levity", and boosts everyone's spirits, being aimed at an action, a happening or an attitude.
Mary Purnell, Revesby
Because intellectuals said so, and when were they ever wrong?
Norm Neill, Leichhardt
It's not. Perhaps you are as deliberately confused as the great Frank Muir on an old BBC episode of My Word, who wound up a typically long-winded anecdote with the phrase "the bun is the lowest form of wheat". Geddit?
John Amy, Blakehurst
I tend to think that wit is the highest form of sarcasm.
Daniel Pericart, Cooranbong
Sarcasm has never been and cannot be a form of wit. Punning is the lowest form of wit and always will be.
John Currie, St. Ives
Sarcasm is said to be a low form of humour as its intent is generally to get laughs at someone else's expense. The pointed humour may not be funny to the victim but its funny to those who understand the barb as it feeds their intellectual egos. This is because sarcasm is a form of humour that is known to require the highest functions of our brains. Areas of the brain that decipher sarcasm and irony also process language, recognise emotions and help understand social cues. Sarcasm is related to our ability to understand other people's mental state so it's not just a linguistic form, it's also related to social cognition.
David Buley, Seaforth
Because it is only marginally better than being witless.
Vikram Karekatte, North Sydney
Because it is the form commonly employed by politicians.
Hugo Stiegl, Dora Creek
Sarcasm is scornful, contemptuous and taunting, hence it is rightfully the lowest form of wit.
Premila Singh, Strathfield
You'd have to be a bloody genius to know that!
Linda Forbes, Collaroy Plateau
Because it requires very little brain power to be sarcastic? puns or other 'true' jokes for example, actually need some sort of a sense of humour, intelligence and/or wit.
Karina L., Kingsgrove
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit only to those who have never mastered the art, and those who always fall victim to it.
Adam Pemberton, Sylvania
If you have to ask,you wouldn't understand!
Karlheinz Kunkel, Oatley
The lowest form of wit is reputedly the pun - or as some wag said, "The bun is the lowest form of wheat".
Gary Whale, Yamba
Sarcasm is generally negative, and tends to hurt, which places it on the lowest rung of the humour ladder. For example, "He thinks he's a wit, but he's only half right."
Sandy Parkinson, Hilton WA
Recent research at the University of Haifa claims that sarcasm is a complex high order skill needing an ability to understand other peoples state of mind and emotions. Its low because it targets chiefly the sensitive, inarticulate, unsophisticated and powerless.
Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie
Great question! I've wondered the same myself, because you need to be bordering on genius to be able to apply it in just about any given situation.
Luke O'Dwyer, Banksia
"Why is sarcasm the lowest form of wit?" Like you'd get anything more sophistricated...
Madeline Palmer, Kualal Lumpur
Because it is only marginally better than being witless.
Vikram Karekatte, North Sydney ¶ 12:18 AM
Why is sarcasm the lowest form of wit?
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit since its aim is to belittle or hurt someone, and to laugh at their expense; we associate the word "cutting" with it. On the other hand, true wit associates with the word "levity", and boosts everyone's spirits, being aimed at an action, a happening or an attitude.
Mary Purnell, Revesby
Because intellectuals said so, and when were they ever wrong?
Norm Neill, Leichhardt
It's not. Perhaps you are as deliberately confused as the great Frank Muir on an old BBC episode of My Word, who wound up a typically long-winded anecdote with the phrase "the bun is the lowest form of wheat". Geddit?
John Amy, Blakehurst
I tend to think that wit is the highest form of sarcasm.
Daniel Pericart, Cooranbong
Sarcasm has never been and cannot be a form of wit. Punning is the lowest form of wit and always will be.
John Currie, St. Ives
Sarcasm is said to be a low form of humour as its intent is generally to get laughs at someone else's expense. The pointed humour may not be funny to the victim but its funny to those who understand the barb as it feeds their intellectual egos. This is because sarcasm is a form of humour that is known to require the highest functions of our brains. Areas of the brain that decipher sarcasm and irony also process language, recognise emotions and help understand social cues. Sarcasm is related to our ability to understand other people's mental state so it's not just a linguistic form, it's also related to social cognition.
David Buley, Seaforth
Because it is only marginally better than being witless.
Vikram Karekatte, North Sydney
Because it is the form commonly employed by politicians.
Hugo Stiegl, Dora Creek
Sarcasm is scornful, contemptuous and taunting, hence it is rightfully the lowest form of wit.
Premila Singh, Strathfield
You'd have to be a bloody genius to know that!
Linda Forbes, Collaroy Plateau
Because it requires very little brain power to be sarcastic? puns or other 'true' jokes for example, actually need some sort of a sense of humour, intelligence and/or wit.
Karina L., Kingsgrove
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit only to those who have never mastered the art, and those who always fall victim to it.
Adam Pemberton, Sylvania
If you have to ask,you wouldn't understand!
Karlheinz Kunkel, Oatley
The lowest form of wit is reputedly the pun - or as some wag said, "The bun is the lowest form of wheat".
Gary Whale, Yamba
Sarcasm is generally negative, and tends to hurt, which places it on the lowest rung of the humour ladder. For example, "He thinks he's a wit, but he's only half right."
Sandy Parkinson, Hilton WA
Recent research at the University of Haifa claims that sarcasm is a complex high order skill needing an ability to understand other peoples state of mind and emotions. Its low because it targets chiefly the sensitive, inarticulate, unsophisticated and powerless.
Paul Roberts, Lake Cathie
Great question! I've wondered the same myself, because you need to be bordering on genius to be able to apply it in just about any given situation.
Luke O'Dwyer, Banksia
"Why is sarcasm the lowest form of wit?" Like you'd get anything more sophistricated...
Madeline Palmer, Kualal Lumpur
Because it is only marginally better than being witless.
Vikram Karekatte, North Sydney ¶ 12:18 AM
