A colleague came by the cube this morning: "Is it done yet? Come on is it done yet? Keep typing, keep typing" (followed by a few chuckles and then a scary grin). People always ask this in a joking manner, but come on are they really joking? Sometimes I can't stand it when people mask their true feelings with a joke. Just come out and say what you want!!
I wonder how different cultures mask their feelings, how they make jokes... I think it'd be very interesting to study sarcasm in different cultures and languages. What words, expressions (verbal and facial) constitute sarcasm? I think by analyzing sarcasm one can get a glimpse of the kinds of things a culture values, what's important to them, what is dishonorable, what's forced upon them by their society. Sarcasm is a great way to release social tension... So then what builds up that social tension? Of course this is just a specific instance of using language as a window into culture and humanity.
I look back and wish I had followed my heart and went into linguistics, Spanish, international studies, ethnology, ethnography...
4 comments:
i agree - there is a certain degree of passive agressiveness associated with that type of sarcasm at work. what he was really trying to say was "dude, you're not done that yet".
but then every person exhibits that type of behaviour now and then.
parting words on this topic - stop waxing nostalgic on things you have dreamt of doing. If you were twice the age you are now, you'd still be young enough to go back and pursue a passion.
Take small bites and steps - you don't have to eat the whole elephant in one bite. To not take those baby steps would be a crime.
Apple
Basically that’s human nature we want to convey our thing but do not want to look bad in front of others. We always want clean-cut image of ours, as other way u see is that the people like to hear candy stuff rather than bitter truth. So if you wrap the ugly truth in the sweet wrapper then people do not mind.
There are so many expressions for conveying the same. Sometime people use negative strategy too I mean to say somebody he/she looks ugly we just completely opposite and praise him like hell. I had seen that happening and at back of that person you make fun. In today’s world hypocorism is need to survive. And if we sit down and think then you will realize it that even we are among those who is entraining the hypocorism. I mean don’t you like listening to goody stuff rather than your faults? We always like those kinds of people around us who keep on praising us rather than those who make us see our mistakes.
"In today's world hypocrisy is necessary to survive". You should expand on this point, perhaps write a paper on it. Why do you think this? It would be interesting to read. That's a very sad and bleak outlook on life.
What I think is necessary is to know and recognize who the hypocrites are so you can be careful around them.
Ohh! That’s my favorite topic and I can take it as my research topic. But anyway for time being I think I do not need to elaborate it as if we sit down and think then we will find that we are part of that same group. Its just that we do not consider our act as part of it.
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