Standing up to sarcasm
Dealing with sarcasm is not easy, and when you're faced with people who say unkind and spiteful things simply to offend you or put you down, you're usually left with a burning desire to respond in an equally sarcastic way.To deal with sarcastic people you have to be witty and also excellent command of the language to top a sarcastic remark. Here are some practical tips to keep in mind:
1. Don't show that you're upset. Sarcasm feeds on distress, so if you keep a cool exterior, it loses any pleasure for the perptrator and will fall flat.
2. Don't lower yourself to his or her level. It's not always necessary to react with sarcasm even if it seems a great way to "pay back" your oppressor. In some instances, it's enough to give a nice smile without uttering one single word. Your silence can make him or her feel either disarmed and uncomfortable, or suprised and upset.
3. Appear not to understand. You can also deflect the consequences of sarcasm by pretending not to understand what is being said, which defeats the effect the perpetrator wishes to make. Just give a quizzical look and a despairing shake of the head like you haven't a clue what he or she means.
4. Use humour. Turn a sarcastic remark about you into a joke. For example, you could say with a smile:"Fantastic! You seem to know more about me than I know myself. I am so thankful that you have enlightened me!" This may sound sarcastic, but unlike real sarcasm, it is not meant to hurt, but to just soften the original blow.
5. Confront directly. In a public setting, you can address a sarcastic comment by asking if the person has a problem he'd like to discuss. If he says nothing, continue to pursue it a little. "No, it's important that we hear what is bothering you. What is it?" This will either bring out any real causes behind the sarcasm or show him that his sarcasm is going to cause problems if it continues.
Realising that sarcasm is the result of a person's bitter feelings gone out of control means that we can take the higher road in dealing with them. Depending on the situation, we can choose how we will react in each case, whether through the power of silence or humour, or direct confrontation. If all these fail, however, the best way to deal with sarcastic people is to accept them as they are, but knowing their tendency to offend, be sure to hold them at arm's length in any interactions.
Comments (13)
I think it's smart to teach people how to approach you successfully. You should encourage politeness and use ideas like yours when someone is rude or sarcastic. You can't change them but you can teach them how to present their ideas in a more constructive way.
hahahhaha…I also wish I can give a good tongue-lashing but that’s not me. It could make the situation worse. If we counter attack, the person will be happy and will make you angrier. Best way is ignore them.