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Oscar Wilde once said, "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence." Regardless, PR experts and marriage counselors often advise their clients to stay away from it. The reason is simple: this form of expression can sting others, hurting people and harming relationships. As a communication tool, it dances on the edge of conflict.

But sometimes, throwing sparks and seeing if they catch fire is precisely what you want. Especially when everyone and everything around you tickles your nerves. Which is something we all sometimes feel. (I hope.)

So let's take a look at the Instagram account 'Sarcasm Only.' Sharing memes, tweets, and all kinds of content, it manages to pinpoint universal human emotion despite firing shots in every direction. If there's one place you need to get through a lousy, it's this little corner of the internet. I mean, why else would 16 million people follow it?

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In fact, scientists are finding that the ability to detect sarcasm really is useful. For the past 20 years, linguists, psychologists, neurologists, and other researchers have been analyzing our ability to perceive snarky remarks and gaining new insights into how the mind works. Their studies have shown that exposure to sarcasm enhances creative problem solving, for instance.

You could say sarcasm detection is an essential skill if one is going to function in a modern society dripping with irony. "Our culture, in particular, is permeated with sarcasm,” Katherine Rankin, a neuropsychologist at the University of California at San Francisco, told Smithsonian Magazine. "People who don't understand sarcasm are immediately noticed. They're not getting it. They're not socially adept."

Sarcasm is so popular in 21st-century America that according to one study of a database of telephone conversations, 23 percent of the time that the phrase "Yeah, right" was used, it was uttered sarcastically.

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Entire phrases have almost lost their literal meanings because they are so frequently said with a sneer. Take "Big deal," for example. When was the last time someone said that to you and actually meant it? "My heart bleeds for you" almost always equals "Tell it to someone who cares," and "Aren’t you special" means you aren’t.

"It's practically the primary language in modern society," John Haiman, a linguist at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the author of Talk is Cheap: Sarcasm, Alienation and the Evolution of Language, said.

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Madison Feehan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's start normalizing the fact that clothes are really expensive and deserve to be worn more than once!

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Sarcastic statements are sort of a true lie. People are saying something they don’t literally mean, but the communication works as intended only if their listener gets that they're insincere.

Some language experts suggest sarcasm is used as a sort of gentler insult, a way to tone down criticism, but their opponents have found that the mocking, smug, superior nature of sarcasm is perceived as more hurtful than a plain-spoken criticism.

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The Greek root for sarcasm, sarkazein, means to tear flesh like dogs. Haiman thinks dog-eat-dog sarcastic commentary is just part of our quest to be cool. "You're distancing yourself, you're making yourself superior. If you're sincere all the time, you seem naive."

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Madison Feehan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was going to comment something smart but I'm so tired. I'll do it tomorrow.

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ZAPanda
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

EXACTLY. this is why I refuse, despite being a good cook. Time is money. I just buy pre-made. Apologies to underpaid pre-made sandwich workers.

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Research has also shown that sarcasm can be easily misinterpreted, especially when served electronically. In one study, 30 pairs of university students were given a list of statements to communicate, half of which were sarcastic and half of which were serious: some students communicated their messages via e-mail and others via voice recordings.

Participants who received the voice messages accurately gleaned the sarcasm (or lack thereof) 73 percent of the time, but those who received the statements via e-mail did so only 56 percent of the time, hardly better than chance. Additionally, the e-mailers had anticipated that 78 percent of participants would pick up on the sarcasm inherent in their sarcastic statements. That is, they badly overestimated their ability to communicate their tone.

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At least sarcasm goes well with memes!

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Madison Feehan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Mom and I be like: 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎙️🎙️🎶🎶🎶🎶🎙️🎙️🎶🎶🎶🎶

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to my dietician the worst thing you can do is eat or drink on an empty stomach, at least that's what I understood when I read her list of do's and don'ts.

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Loretta
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair the last thing I need is someone being obsessed with me. I'd like to have a healthy relationship please.

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Madison Feehan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

POV: When your friend brings one of their other friends to lunch but you don't know the other friend so you just sit there awkwardly while they reminisce about something they did 4 years ago.

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ZAPanda
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is actually brilliant because it will save the hassles of a divorce.

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Ophelia Butz
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like someone might stay in an bad marriage simply because they think 'only two years left'

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tuzdayschild
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This would turn into a big every 4 years fee you have to pay and little else.

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Eb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then why bother with marriage at all? Without at least the intention to make a long-term commitment it's not marriage.

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La Kalypso
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would say every year, rather than four. That said, the "renewal of the contract" is not a new idea by any means. Here's another one: possibility to get married only if the money covering (possible) divorce is already set aside. Takes away the romance, but... marriage is a contract, let's not forget that part.

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Meg Headrick
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True but every year I feel like waiting in line at courthouse or mail would get really tedious. Like why not just be engaged forever save the hassle lol- I met a couple in their 70s together 40 years, 2 adult kids, etc., and they literally just stayed boyfriend and girlfriend! So cute

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Mike Loux
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Celts had the right idea - https://www.libraryireland.com/Brehon-Laws/Marriage.php

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Lejita
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice! I was about to post about this. They had an impressive law system! (Sister Fidelma series, anyone?)

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Tami
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good idea but it'd never fly. Lawyers would lobby against it.

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Sandra Monahan
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People should NEVER get married if they don't have a permanent commitment to their partner. When you get married it's forever, not until I get tired of you, or until I find someone better. DON'T GET MARRIED IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT COMMITMENT!

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Cathelijne Van
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes! And you could re-marry every 4 years if you want, really mean it, and throw a big ass party 🎉

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Twodogsandapicnictable
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lived together for 27 years. Been engaged for 17. And had a marriage application stuck to our fridge with a magnet for over a year. Still together. Still happy. If you can't handle more than four years with someone you chose to be with, that's on you. And youneed to sort your sht the fck out.

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Meg Headrick
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

awwwwww! And YES- I met a couple in their 80s, 2 adult kids and 4 grandkids, still so in love and they are "boyfriend and girlfriend" because why the heck not lol- together 40 years

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Brafne Heiwer
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah let's just suck all the love and joy out of a marriage and debase it to a simple legal contract. It's not like marriage is supposed to be a long term commitment or anything.

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J.L. Martin
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Handfasting used to be an annual thing. I don't think this is a bad idea.

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My O My
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some politician tried to come through with this. But every 7 years

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Kraneia The Dancing Dryad
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See: handfasting. You sign a marriage contract for X number of years, and then decide if you want to renew. Very pagan.

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Susanne B
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I recently read about a couple that divorced after 3 months

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Susanne B
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But it might not be such a great idea for your children

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Kiss Army
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband and I refer to our anniversary as our "Contract Renewal Date". (It will be 29 years in April.)

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Rebecca Bourgeois
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It exists, in France. Known as a Pacs. Has to be renewed every 2 years.

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Erica Cochrane
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is how old marriages used to work. people would handfast, and choose how long they would want to stay married, for example, 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, then at the end of that time, they could choose if they wanted to be handfasted again or not. smart thing to do i think! (i THINK this is how it worked, i'm not totally sure though!)

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Steve Fischer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You'll need an eye exam because you just don't see what you saw in her the first time

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Meg Headrick
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know a couple in their 70s, together 40 years, so cute and in love, 2 adult kids and grandkids, and they are STILL boyfriend girlfriend!

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Becky Graybeal
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This idea was brought forth in the brilliant book "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" Along with many other great concepts.

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Casey Payne
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There were pagan societies that used to have this before Christianity. I think they got rid of it because it benefited women more than it did men. Oh, and I guess that whole 'Till Death Do Us Part' nonsense. Goodness, you don't have to die, just get away from me.

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Kanuli
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it goes with the same legal rights, maybe you could arrange that. Just need to make a contract like that settled everything beforehand as if you would divorce.

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Meg Headrick
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or just don't get married, like you don't have to- I know a family married 40 years and in late 70s still boyfriend girlfriend and kids grandkids and still in love, like who cares

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Pia kjærgaard
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

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Immortal Emperor Paradox
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If this happens, won't there be a big possibility that the seriousness of the Institution of Marriage be reduced? I mean, if you aren't sure, just don't get married before you get to know him better. Just my two cents.

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Bobby
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Think who would 've suffer from this. The one who wanted the renewable license.

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Seabeast
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a terrible idea. "Til death do us part" comes from an era when few people lived much past age 60.

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Kendra Miller
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should be annual like renewing your license plates. Then every year both people in the couple are choosing to stay together when they renew on their anniversary. Seems much more romantic and special versus staying togerther out of habit.

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Moisturized Elbows
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But isn't marriage supposed to be a lifelong commitment, choosing to stay with the same person through thick and thin? You can just date of stay in relationships forever, quite common these days

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Olivia Lisbon
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But if you were stranded somewhere in danger at 3am and needed them you know they’d come.

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Madison Feehan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope it's not a chili pepper cake, because you don't need the extra burn.

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Madison Feehan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well yeah that's why its called "after work". I don't exist to the outside world after 8pm.

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Demi Zwaan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, rich will do that to you. All the money in the world for surgery, injections, make-up and photoshop.

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Mistralok
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can relate to this. If I can't sleep well at night and get up before dawn, all I have to do is make breakfast and I'm back in bed in no time.

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ThatGuv
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every day is a Monday if you work all those days. It's pretty Meh...

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