Sarcasm is like Cynicism, too much is a bad thing, and quite frankly annoying. Sarcasm has a time and place for everything but if it's overused to the extent that no one understands what you're really trying to say then that is obviously a bad thing and can be an indicator of other issues one may have, e.g. low self esteem, anger/aggressiveness. Using it on the weekend while having drinks with friends and busting chops is perfectly fine. Using it in a more formal/work setting is just playing with fire. It's better to just express your opinion clearly in those situations rather than hiding it behind a joke, especially if you're leading a team.
I have something of a similar problem: I often can't tell the difference between someone who's a legit idiot and someone who's joking, only pretending to be an idiot. Often people will say something horribly stupid and I just try my best to set them straight, only for them to cut me off and let me know they were just messin'. Well, s***, how should I know: I get asked/told stupid s*** all the time, and I've come to just assume people are idiots (and/or have no sense of humor) unless proven otherwise.
Either they think your a funny guy or a *******. I think your a funny sarcasm guy as you don't mind poking fun at yourself. If your constantly making fun of coworkers and their faults sarcastically at every opportunity then they think your a giant *******. I think your funny though, my 2 cents.
The thread title implies that constantly being sarcastic is mostly upside, as though there is only one 'downside' which has to be pointed out. Not sure if serious.
lol, I keed I keed. I like your style though; the whole, if you can't laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at, sort of thing. which, interestingly enough, brings me to my next point. habitual sarcasm is often an involuntary social defense mechanism. once one learns that, I think they can start the healing.
This and this Will also say, it depends on environment too. When the hipster/irony tone took over as modus operandi for younger upstarts, and ESPECIALLY when "The Office" tv show came up big, a bunch of peer groups at work can get together and think they're "funny" behind a snarky tone. And you're to 'understand' THEIR context to "get it" Its like the "cool crew" wants to have dominion over use of the sarcastic tone. But then when you don't subscribe to cliques and YOU'RE sarcastic, it can fall flat. My last employer, they're so full of themselves they completely FORGOT what direct HONEST tone was. And when YOU'RE honest, it cuts through THEIR shield and hurts feelings, and YOU look like the HARDASS Sounds confusing? Yeah it is. Thats why, communications at work should just be clear and concise without the snarky/sarcasm.
You've expressed it a lot more thoroughly that I would've but I wanted to attribute some of this trend to the Office too. Huge fanbase that believed their comedic taste to be better than what the other networks were pushing. And a style of biting humor that would fit well with internet message boards, but I'm probably overthinking it, and I loved Office.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/C2QrWzsfghA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
^^^ Is it just me? Or does this smiley seem more b****y, obnoxious, and just plain *******-ish than sarcastic?
