Re: passive poetry, skunk and shite, and on writing well


Subject: Re: passive poetry, skunk and shite, and on writing well
From: Tim O'Connor (oconnort@nyu.edu)
Date: Mon Jan 08 2001 - 17:34:07 GMT


On Mon, Jan 08, 2001 at 03:03:26PM -0500, Jive Monkey wrote:
 
> i've often wondered if
> those people who look down their noses at sarcasm do so out of compassion
> for the burned, or because they've been burned, or just because they're
> incapable of firing off one or two good ones of their own now and then.

Andy, I wouldn't consider myself as someone who "looks down [his]
nose" at sarcasm. I think sarcasm (of which I am sometimes guilty in
speaking about circumstances) is one of the lower classes of expression,
and is a cheap way of getting a point across. It's a lot more effective,
I've found, to reply wittily, or even witheringly (if one is so inclined;
I'm usually not). Sarcastic responses don't count for me, because
they're so ... so EASY, I guess. And mean-spirited half the time, as well.

I think our gentle Mattis is more than capable of defending himself,
so I'm not going to go out on that limb, and anyway I suspect he needs
no help from me.

The rule of thumb I use in general is that I try never to say in a
mail message something I'd never say face-to-face. And it's quite
rare for me to cut down in sarcasm a person with whom I'm talking.
Oh, I might be sarcastic about a TOPIC, but I don't find myself
engaged in putting a person in his place sarcastically.

I find it a lot more effective to be a considerate listener and
good talking friend.

Cheers!

--tim

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