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I'll give you a hint... if he's talking, narrating, or doing any other type of speaking...

Even verbally, sarcasm doesn't always carry over well. Some people just can't recognize it. On the Internet it's worse. While it's bad to act out an emotion by merely stating that you feel that way on the Internet, it's sometimes necessary to indicate emotions such as sarcasm because literal meaning is subverted intentionally.

sarcasm mode on You mean you can't hear voice inflections in text? sarcasm mode off

Now, see, if the above sentence weren't given Sarcasm Mode warnings, some people would actually believe that Report Siht is so idiotic as to not realize that there is no aural component to text.

Of course, there are also people who will ignore the indicators and assume this anyway, but at least it was tried. Also seen in <sarcasm> </sarcasm> form. Usually with this kind of Sarcasm Tag, only the closing tag is actually used; after all, it's not as much fun, and might even be insulting, to announce in advance that you're being sarcastic, and oh, how the world weeps when you're insulted, right? </sarcasm>

Some people display Sarcasm by using italics to emphasise certain words as one would in speech. Others however, just use certain words that are not common in natural speech, such as "Gosh, really?", "My goodness, I never would have guessed that", and "Gee willikers, that's so insightful."

Another method of using sarcasm is when a character makes a Captain Obvious observation, which culminates into Ask A Stupid Question, Get a Stupid Answer.

Roger Ebert actually has a rather comprehensive essay on this very subject, titled This is the Dawning of the Age of Credulity after people completely failed to appreciate the sarcasm behind an "interview" he gave regarding Creationism. This, however, was due to Poe's Law. Other people have even proposed a sarcastic font.

Theoretically, one could link via wiki to a Sarcasm Entry. So that any use of Sarcasm could be a Blue Link. Not that I'm hinting at anything.

On That Other Wiki, people have unsuccessfully tried to outlaw sarcasm, eventually culminating in this page.

There's an App for it now.

See also Sincerity Mode.

FaeNarm/WebcomicsDominic Deegan
Rule Thirty FourNew Media TropesSincerity Mode