D. C. Southwick

Do you know a sarcastic person? Are you a sarcastic person? Then this will most certainly apply to you.

Why, may you ask, am I ranting about this trait? It stems from a classmate who is habitually sarcastic, and has dug himself a hole so deep that no one wants to approach.

I don’t mind occasional, good humored sarcasm but it can be taken too far. Sarcasm (by its definition) is not inherently cruel. It can be used for effect. What I am talking about is sarcasm that is used to wound. Sarcasm as a form of passive aggression.

Sarcasm can be both witty and intelligent; that’s what makes it so brutal. You can bet your ass that the sarcastic person meant their words. Failure to respond to their verbal jabs is usually met with even more sarcasm. Oddly the mocking contempt of sarcasm makes one feel alternately like you “should” respond, silly if you “didn’t” respond, sorry if you “do” respond. The victim cannot win.

Sarcasm is judgment, poisoned by anger, brought to life by action (e.g., giving voice to harmful thoughts). Sarcasm is verbally acting on anger. If you are a sarcastic person, you must stop judging and start Observing. You must learn to observe without acting. It is not necessary to speak aloud everything you think.

I hate sarcastic people. I cant take dealing with their arrogant view of what their commments (are meant to) accomplish.
BUT – Sarcasm is a behavior; and behaviors can be changed.

Remember that you have a choice every time you open your mouth. Try thinking through what you say before you say it.

Before you speak, think:
Is this True?
Is this Kind?
Is this Necessary?

Effect before cause.

For those of us that have to deal with sarcastic people:

People need to take responsibility for their actions. Own your own space. Own your own time. Invest it wisely. You define how people treat you. You set boundaries. You choose who you grace with your presence. Only you. If you allow people in your presence when they behave disgracefully, you are reinforcing a behavior that not only does not serve you, it does not serve them, it does not serve the world. You are as responsible as your abuser. Own it. People treat you the way you allow yourself to be treated. Or, put another way, the way people treat you is the outer reflection of your inner self-worth. Change it by changing your Self.

Your life is your art.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Adapted from a post on phlux.net