The Problem with Sarcasm? #yeah, right | Meghan Krause | TEDxGustavusAdolphusCollege

From snarky tweets and message board barbs to difficult dates and caustic coworkers, sarcasm permeates our culture. Sarcasm so saturates 21st-century America that entire phrases have nearly lost their literal meanings because they are frequently uttered with a sneer: “Big deal,” “Excuse me,” “Aren’t you special,” to name a few. In this talk, Meghan shares research that brings these issues to life through a personal quest to better understand the role of authentic connection in the wellbeing of greater humanity.

Meghan Krause is a wellbeing professional who helps people and organizations enhance their health, joy, and success.

[khloeknievel]

A sense of humor is great but sincerity is a wildly underrated trait. Too many people use sarcasm as a way to avoid intimacy. This is something I've noticed in myself but I'm trying to change.

[TheTricksterCoyote]

I feel like sarcasm can get in the way of building trust and intimacy between people.

[Mark-fctu]

I've never been fond of the use of sarcasm, irony and rhetoric.

Everywhere I go, there are always people who use irony and sarcasm to criticize me while holding themselves above criticism.

There was a time where it would hurt me.

Now, I disapprove of the people who do this because they are allowed to do terrible things and get away with them because so many other people think it is funny.

And I can't help but feel skeptical of TEDx Talks speakers who drop ironic punchlines while they are speaking about the harmful consequences of sarcasm.

[MikaKapuscinski]

Finally someone who is willing to state the truth!

[tevans]

I wish my husband understood how he's creating a disconnection with our son with his sarcasm

[eastbaysf]

I hate it...its horrible. You never know what the other person who uses it all the time really means so you avoid them altogether.

[luckylunaloops]

Sarcasm is cruelty with the built-in intention of getting away with it.

[choisanscroptop]

I need to stop being sarcastic to strangers

[danielrodrigues]

This happens every day at my new job and it tells me that my coworkers are blind to having healthy relationships with others, and themselves. I understand that this happens everywhere. Most of my coworkers at my last job at a hospital that I worked at for 17 years had healthy social skills, were compassionate, and understanding.

[mrazik]

Sarcasm is funny until it is used on our deepest shame than it’s like a nife that cuts

[nikai_ryosuke_]

"People who have rich social life and warm open relationships are healthier and live longer." Wow what a very SMART statement

[ToM-yole]

There is nothing wrong with sarcasm, only people and their intentions. I think people who are cool with using sarcasm on others but get salty when others are being sarcastic to them are the real problem.

[jackstevenson]

My sarcasm has cost me friends and marriages..yet I still have a hard time resisting the urge.

[kinglouie]

I've worked with some of the most sarcastic people in the UK - it's not a sign of intelligence, it's the lowest form of wit.

It's veiled hostility, they have a big problem with themselves or you and aren't facing it.

My recommendation is to always challenge it, try to get to the root cause of it with them. But don't waste too much time and energy - if sarcasm is a way of life for them just walk away its too exhausting.

[rickgut]

My friend's parents were very sarcastic with each other. It was sad to watch them take shots at each other in a tone that wasn't friendly. Sarcasm can definitely go too far for too long.

[remember_To_be_kind]

I'm here because my work supervisor says I'm very sarcastic and don't know it and as much as it doesn't affect my work with customers, to her it's not nice so to help me stop she will start marking me down for it

[Hyperdriveuk]

Speaker doesn't actually know what sarcasm is- neither do most people in the comment section- I came here after looking at "sarcastic t-shits" online and found 99% of the quotes weren't ironic or sarcastic in any fashion. They were just "statements" such as "I'm correcting your grammar silently" THAT is not sarcasm nor is it particularly witty. "Going to Africa. hope I don't get AIDS Just That is NOT sarcasm. That's just a krass snarky statement.

-- There has to be some kind of context or setup. Person been shown a steak whose vegan "Oh my favorite snack, a dead animal... yummy!". If the people present are AWARE that the person is a vegan it's funny if timed right. A stranger will just think- Great I'll get you one. An obtuse person will just confused if they know that said person is vegan... "But you're a vegan, why would you want a steak?"

[claudiagurke]

Sarcasm is the best, and it’s the best when you find someone who can match your level

[saifraihan]

there are better ways to get lighten up. She said it from a radically deeper cone. you never can get rid of the damages of chronic sarcastic trend. it will destroy a lot after a span than it can contribute. it becomes a drug and people can't but use it faster when they need mostly to neglect true in many cases. after a limit it becomes a bad cunning habit or you can say it addiction .

[mariovukovic]

Bet she's a huge fan of Chandler Bing.