March 19th, 2010 / 12:44 pm
Craft Notes & Technology
SarcMark, it’s awesome
Sarcasm, Inc. has patented a “SarcMark,” a punctuation mark which looks like a recoiled question mark, to signify sarcasm. Of their 3rd “Core Belief,” they proclaim “For centuries, questions and exclamations have had their own punctuation marks. It’s time that sarcasm is treated equally!” Wow, that’s pretty cool how they used that antiquated exclamation mark
. Yah, these guys are not only cutting-edge grammarians, but great entrepreneurs.
Isn’t it funny how this sentence raises a question without a question mark. Or how “the decapitated man still flinched” is arguably more effective than “the decapitated man still flinched!” Intent, when implicit, is a sharper, smoother cut. The author’s story lies not on the page, but in the reader’s mind.
Christ, I just wish I could download the SarcMark, because without it, without that fucking awesome SarcMark I cannot be sarcastic! I can only be excited — with or without any marks signifying those feelings — so, so excited.
Tags: SarcMark
i’m confused about your tone here, jimmy
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March 19th, 2010 / 1:54 pmNathaniel Otting—
reynard, are you kidding me.
Jimmy Chen, you’ve done it again. Seriously! High hilarity. Ahgh. I mean that. And this: your post on how many refreshes is my favorite post, but you and Adam could have coordinated better:
http://walserandco.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/bookstores-co/
“Let us begin with the punctuations that are not. Of these the one but the first and the most the completely most uninteresting is…”
& also:
As there was never any question there was never any answer. (Everybody’s Autobiography)
Suppose no one asked a question, what would be the answer. (Useful Knowledge, one of my favorites)
but ironically(?): “What is the answer?” [ I was silent ] “In that case, what is the question?” (Alice B. Toklas, What Is Remembered)
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March 19th, 2010 / 2:05 pmce.—
Someone needs a SarcMark..
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March 19th, 2010 / 2:09 pmJimmy Chen—
wait, are you kidding me? it’s obvious reynard was being sarcastic. now, are you being sarcastic? i’m confused.
ha, that mash up was great, thanks for linking.
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March 19th, 2010 / 5:08 pmreynard—
i think i’m going to spend today working on the snarkmarc™
March 19th, 2010 / 4:48 pmNathaniel Otting—
ce.–Not me. Was sincere as can be. Except of course when I was kidding about Reynard (great name, btw, like the Fox) kidding. Jimmy, yes, it was obvious (to me at least), but no less clever & so I thought it would interesting to pile sarcasm on sarcasm. Guess I needed a SarcMark to pull it off.
Point: your post and Reynard’s reply made me laugh. Out loud. There should be a sign for _that_.
P.S. Glad you liked the mash up. I *loved* the original(s). Trying to find my copy of Roadside Picnic so I can send it to Normal’s for a giveaway. You should come give a lecture at Walser & Co. when it opens…
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March 19th, 2010 / 4:49 pmNathaniel Otting—
Re-insert below.
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March 20th, 2010 / 2:06 amNathaniel Otting—
This comment makes a lot of sense now. Thanks, Blake (or Jimmy)
I remember seeing this before and kind of having my mind blown that these guys seem to think that any “zinger” or mean comment is “sarcasm.” It what universe is telling a jogger to “couple more laps, tubby!” sarcasm?
I don’t think there is a single moment of sarcasm in that video unless the whole thing is some meta-sarcasm by not being sarcastic.
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What we really need is Professor Frink’s Sarcasm Meter.
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If this became widespread, the internet would be unbearable to read. I’m really glad it’s a stupid idea.
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March 19th, 2010 / 1:49 pmNathan Tyree—
It’s beyond stupid. I’m with you (I also hate emoticons and stuff)
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Why is anyone paying attention to something called Sarcasm, Inc.? That’s the best name for that organization/site/circlejerk, I’m certain of it.
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What BS – does anyone remember the interrobang? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrobang –
this reminds me of that – why is it so difficult to learn to use the language as it is instead of mindlessly reinventing – or are they trying to be the modern Shakespeare?
Or should I simply say – “Awesome, now why didn’t I think of that.”
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March 19th, 2010 / 2:16 pmJimmy Chen—
interracial gangbang‽
you’re sick
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March 19th, 2010 / 10:19 pmJhon Baker—
the interracial part or the gangbang part? because without the violence and all the people involved I think it sounds a little sexy.
After further review I agree with my initial remark about this at symbol looking forgettable brain fart.
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Also, before they went and created their own symbol for sarcasm, they probably should have done some quick research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclamation_mark
“In writing and often subtitles, especially in British English, a (!) symbol (an exclamation mark within parentheses) implies that a character has made an obviously sarcastic comment eg: “Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that’s a really useful invention(!)”[7]“
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March 19th, 2010 / 2:31 pmLincoln—
No one cares about the British though.
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March 19th, 2010 / 3:50 pmdavidpeak—
fawlty towers was a pretty good show
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March 19th, 2010 / 4:10 pmce.—
So true. Cleese is a genius.
March 19th, 2010 / 4:15 pmNathan Tyree—
League of Gentlemen
Funniest thing ever
I’ve been pulling for this one. I have lost so many friends from the lack of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony_mark
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March 19th, 2010 / 2:21 pmce.—
I like that it’s also called a “snark.”
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Down with the SarcMark!
Punctuation for sarcasm must be free, standards-compliant, and historically accurate. Join the revolution to free sarcasm from the capitalist chains of the SarcMark by punctuating your sarcastic comments with ¡
More info at http://opensarcasm.org.
Sarcasm for the people!
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March 19th, 2010 / 2:52 pmJimmy Chen—
sarcastic ¡Espanol!
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The semantic difference is clarified by the placement.
“!Que bueno¡” (sarcastic) versus “¡Que bueno!” (excited).
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March 19th, 2010 / 3:01 pmJimmy Chen—
what if the excitement is sarcastic?
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That’s absurd¡
Seriously though, sarcastic exclamations should be punctuated like this: “Oh, great!¡”
And sarcastic questions like this: “Did she say that?¡”
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i prefer a good old winky face emoticon for sarcasm
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March 19th, 2010 / 4:36 pmAmy McDaniel—
i mean, that’s how i show saracasm out loud, is by winking. every time ;)
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I refuse to comment on this post, on the grounds that I am (a) British and (b) middle class, and therefore have a fundamental inability to say anything without sounding sarcastic, even if I am being completely sincere. Anyone I know will tell you this.
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I love sarcasm.
But have learned, as a teacher, to avoid.
I also think that’s fair.
You can’t always assume your audience. And sarcasm is like any sort of humor. Subjective. It is NOT a useful teaching device (some learn this late, and I talk to you instructors, lecturers, contract peeps–I say peeps because I have been there).
For bars, living rooms, disc golf rounds, beer–sarcasm rules and is endearing. It implies wit. Wit implies intellect. Intellect is attractive (to me).
I HATE emoticons. Have never actually used one.
But I’m not totally against this one (slippery slope…) or the idea.
New rules apply to new communication.
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March 20th, 2010 / 10:10 pmmimi—
The most attractive traits, to me, are:
1. kindness & compassion
2. a sense of humor
3. intellect
(Not necessarily in that order. Not sure of the order. ????)
sarcasm is endearing – heart
The best kind of humor (including sarcasm) is witty but not unkind. Funny to those who “get it”. Not-hurtful to those who don’t.
My favorite emoticon (the only one I use) is the one that looks like a cartoon chicken with a neutral facial expression.
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I think a poem using every punctuation mark available except for the interrobang and the sarcmark is in order. I mean, fuck the sarcmark – that is the title, fuck the sarcmark.
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Erm. Does anybody else see a third-trimester, dropped-and-turned, locked-and-loaded foetus in that mark? Cause there’s nothing funny– or even sarcastic– about -that.- and yet now I can see nothing but.
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It’s weird you have to pay for sarcasm, I thought it were for free…
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[...] The SarcMark lets you punctuate your sarcasm. [...]
I see they are giving the SarcMark Software away at their site http://www.sarcmark.com Free to download.
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