4 ms·
That's mockery, but not the common use of sarcasm. Sarcasm is making a statement that is the opposite of what you mean, and using vocal tone to convey the "NOT"
by judk 13y ago
That's mockery, but not the common use of sarcasm. Sarcasm is making a statement that is the opposite of what you mean, and using vocal tone to convey the "NOT". It's plain rude in spoken communication, but fundamentally impossible in text. People don't understand that when they hear their writing inside their head, where they apply the intonation.
- jacalata 13y agoThe doctor almost certainly didn't mean it when he said that it was possible the patient was practicing law somewhere, so I think it was sarcasm.
- judk 13y agoI thought about that, but decided that "for all I know" was a carefully worded expression of "it is contrary to the logic of the known Universe and all who claim to be guided by reason, but I invite you to try to claim that a miracle occurred." I guess it could be read either way. I am not expert in the finest points of a argumentative linguistics. :-) Contrast to something like. "I had his brain in a jar. But in retrospect, I agree it was improper for me to rush to judgment".