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/s neuters sarcasm completely. In my opinion if you won't commit to being facetious online because you're afraid someone will (inevitably) think you're being se
by fractionalhare 6y ago
/s neuters sarcasm completely. In my opinion if you won't commit to being facetious online because you're afraid someone will (inevitably) think you're being serious, then don't do it at all.
- DoofusOfDeath 6y agoWhile I agree in general, I think HN's rules of conduct discourage posts that have even a small chance of misinterpretation. (I can't quote the specific rule, but I seem to remember this from some feedback that @dang gave me a while ago.)
- eitland 6y ago> I can't quote the specific rule, "Avoid snark" is my first guess.
- dylan604 6y agoBut if my mommy isn't hovering over my shoulder to tell me someone was making a funny, my feelings will get crushed.
- MereInterest 6y agoBy that same argument, using a sarcastic tone of voice neuters sarcasm completely.
- cjmb 6y ago:) welcome to the great divide between spoken British-English & spoken American-English
- MereInterest 6y agoIt's fantastic. (Please stop reading here if you are British.) /s
- fractionalhare 6y agoI don't really think that's comparable. Tone has more nuance and is a different medium of communication than the literal words you're saying. There are two channels of delivery there: the tone used to signify sarcasm, and the words you're saying. Tone is more subtle and you can modulate it to be more or less obvious. For example, you could opt for a dry delivery using little to no sarcastic tone (which is what typing sarcasm without /s is closest to, in my opinion). When you use /s, you're disclaiming the sarcasm immediately and in the same delivery as the words. It doesn't resemble tone at all, because you can't choose to be subtle. You don't get a beat in which the other person is initially surprised and then "gets it."