Sarcasm is a survival skill

POSTED BY: Cybersnark
UPDATED: Friday, August 15, 2008 22:00
VIEWED: 3381
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CYBERSNARK

Friday, June 20, 2008 3:57 PM

Well, duh.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080620/sc_livescience/sarcasmsee
nasevolutionarysurvivalskill

Quote:
Evolutionary biologists claim that sociality is what has made humans such a successful species. We are masters at what anthropologists and others call "social intelligence." We recognize and keep track of hundreds of relationships, and we easily distinguish between enemies and friends.

More important, we run our lives by social calculation. A favor is mentally recorded and paid back, sometimes many years later. Likewise, insults are marked down on the mental score card in indelible ink. And we are constantly bickering and making up, even with people we love.

Sarcasm, then, is a verbal hammer that connects people in both a negative and positive way. We know that sense of humor is important to relationships; if someone doesn't get your jokes, they aren't likely to be your friend (or at least that's my bottom line about friendship). Sarcasm is simply humor's dark side, and it would be just as disconcerting if a friend didn't get your snide remarks.

Proof perhaps that Joss and his fans are just a bit more evolved than everyone else.

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We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

MSB

Monday, June 23, 2008 9:31 PM

Hey thanks for providing me with the article I will present at our informal research forum:)

____________________________________________

Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

CHRISISALL

Monday, June 23, 2008 9:44 PM

Uh, well, thanks, 'cause, y'know, I didn't know any of that.

isall

FARFLY

Monday, June 23, 2008 10:11 PM

Yeah, neither did I.

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3:04 PM

This is a really necessary thread, don't you think?

Chrisisall

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:27 AM

OMG like sooooo necessary! I am not sure I could have survived the night without this thread.

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

KHYRON

Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:35 AM

Like sarcasm's so great.

Hey, let's vote to make it our president!

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This isn't my signature. I have to type this every time I make a post.

MSB

Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:36 PM

well duh 'causer at least sarcasm has a purpose...

____________________________________________

Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

MALACHITE

Friday, August 15, 2008 6:04 PM

Of course, sometimes I find that keeping my big mouth shut is more conducive to my survival...

EMBERS

Friday, August 15, 2008 6:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
This is a really necessary thread, don't you think?

Chrisisall

even Michael Weston says social relationships are important, but he thinks it is better to have people think you owe them than that they owe you:

though I guess that exploits the advantage of cynicism rather than sarcasm....

New Firefly fans should check this out: http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=15816

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