Sure, sarcasm can be difficult to detect on the net without the benefit of being able to hear vocal inflections or facial expressions, but we’ve managed to get by for the most part with smileys, underlining, italics, or any combination thereof when used in conjunction with context.
However, Sarcasm Inc. have come up with a new “sarcasm punctuation mark” that is an open circle with a dot in the center. It’s basically a stylized schwa with a dot, which kind of makes it look like an abstracted smiley face rotated 180°. Seems a bit pointless, frankly, but Sarcasm Inc. appear to be willing to bet that people will spend $2 on a program that will install and let them use this punctuation mark for them by pressing control-period.
That’s just what we needed.
Granted, punctuation they invented, but is it even possible to copyright a punctuation mark? Even one you created? What’s to stop anyone from just adding it to existing fonts? Or is it that they’re copyrighting the software that lets you use it rather than the mark it displays?
In any event, I can’t see this catching on. Wait, no, I can totally see it catching on. Totally.
I don’t see a need for the sarcasm mark. To me, it’s like explaining the joke. Either people get it or they don’t. If they don’t get it, it means I’ve either failed in the conveyance of my message or they’re just too dim to pick up that it’s sarcasm. And half the time the second one occurs, it’s probably for the best that they don’t believe I was being sarcastic.
I do see the need - my favourite mode of expression is deadpan exaggeration, which doesn’t come across at all in writing. It’s easier to get it in person, when you can see my eyes twinkling. No one can see your eyes twinkling over the internet.
