How To Pull Off Sarcasm

[AbsolutBeirut]

One of my sticking points is that whenever I try to be sarcastic, people take me seriously. They don't get that I am joking and that puts me in an awkward situation afterwards. It's not that I'm trying to be sarcastic to appear cool, I just feel like throwing sarcastic comments here and there. Should I resist the temptation to do so or is there a way to do it right? My problem is that sometimes I appear tense and people feel that I'm too serious. How can I train myself to loosen up? Any help on this is appreciated.

 

[Freddy1]

You could say "I'm joking". After you make your sarcastic comment. I find that helps alot.

WIth sarcasm you have to tread lightly on it. Sometimes people take it the wrong way. Saying "I'm kidding with you" helps too.

 

[Krassus]

I used to have that problem. Say it with a subtle smile on your face. You cal also experiment with the tone of voice. Keep practicing, you'll get it right.

 

[Bigsnake]

I used to have that problem. Say it with a subtle smile on your face. You cal also experiment with the tone of voice. Keep practicing, you'll get it right.

That's the trick right now. You have to show them you're playing with your smile and tone of voice. If you don't do it right, then you're just going to come off as a sarcastic a-hole.

 

[persiangino]

Never apologize to a girl if you use sarcasm on her, It will only hurt your chances with her. Even if it seems that she takes offense play it cool, smile, and pretend you never even said it.

 

[T Money]

Yeah I smile when i'm sarcastic, and people think it's funny. If I try to pull off the "dry humor, people will laugh while I maintain a straight face" type of humor, people just don't get it.

 

[Centaurion]

Saying "I'm joking" afterwards kinda messes up the whole point of being sarcastic. I usually have a very dry and sarcastic humor and not alot of people will get the joke, but when they do, they'll laugh their arses off!

Your body language, and especially your facial expression and your tone of voice play an important role when being sarcastic. I used to be the King of Sarcastic humor in HS, but I pushed it too far with this one chick. I got an email from her once asking me why I 'hated' her. hehe funny stuff.

 

[Yotsuya-san]

Yeah, dry humour is often associated with people who are boring and hate the world. If you're trying to be funny, sly smiles are your biggest weapon in making her smile back.

They're contagious!

Not neccesarily "hate the world" but dry humor is usually associated with high brow intellectual types. I avoid sarcastic humor since it's overused and more associated with the young and "need to be hip" (read college age). Dry humor is probably best avoided outside circles of people you already know well (fellow Oxfords and Harvard men for example).

 

[Bigsnake]

Not neccesarily "hate the world" but dry humor is usually associated with high brow intellectual types. I avoid sarcastic humor since it's overused and more associated with the young and "need to be hip" (read college age). Dry humor is probably best avoided outside circles of people you already know well (fellow Oxfords and Harvard men for example).

What exactly is Dry Humor? Is it being sarcastic?

People tell me I have a dry sense of humor all the time but I really am not trying to do so.

 

[ScrewIt]

I dont know why that should happen to you, perhaps your demeanor?
The opposite happens to me, when im serious my friend always thinks im being sarcastic. But I cant blame him cause he asks me dumb questions sometimes...more like questions with obvious answers.
When I truly am being sarcastic, i just make it very obvious with my tone of voice and facial expression.

Cant quite say it comes with practice, it should be natural

 

[Centaurion]

Look at Monty Pyton for examples on dry humor.