# Pay for a Sarcasm Punctuation Mark? Oh, that's SO Worth It **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 13, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793 "2010-01-13T16:38:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/21 "2010-01-13T21:36:17Z")
Heh, heh. I couldn’t help myself, this thread was just the best place to use that gag. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/22 "2010-01-13T21:42:10Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I thought we already _had_ a sarcasm punctuation mark and it was :rolleyes:. Not entirely, but you’ve hit on the point. We’ve already got punctuation marks for all these non-verbal cues we can’t express via text: Smileys or emoticons. They grew organically. We don’t need any extras. And it just makes sense to use the symbols we already have. It’s like interrobang: why wasn’t ?! sufficient? It was already in use. (:rolleyes: can also be used to be condescending, for example. Or contempt. Or, well, pretty much anything actually doing it can be. When it’s used to indicate sarcasm, it usually is itself sarcasm.) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/23 "2010-01-13T21:53:05Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > I’m sure this will go down in history as being greater even than the [Interrobang](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrobang) and the [Irony Mark](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony_mark)! Are you being sarcastic? I wish I could tell. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/24 "2010-01-13T21:54:12Z")
I personally prefer the (-_-) or the (-_-’ ) for the guy just putting his head down and shaking it. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/25 "2010-01-13T21:54:22Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > Hello, my middle name is now Gullible. Really? ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/26 "2010-01-13T23:10:10Z")
I don’t think “gullible” is actually a word. It isn’t in the dictionary, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/27 "2010-01-13T23:15:55Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I don’t think “gullible” is actually a word. What is the fourth word in that sentence? > [@](#): > > It isn’t in the dictionary, anyway. [Oh, really?](http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=define%3Agullible&btnG=Google+Search) ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/28 "2010-01-14T00:05:06Z")
See? Another post that could’ve been avoided, if only we had a handy-dandy punctuation mark to clearly indicate none of **Malleus** ’ statements re: gullibility were actually serious. Clearly, Sarcasm Inc ought to be first in line for the next Nobel Peace Prize. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/29 "2010-01-14T00:08:09Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Are you being sarcastic? I wish I could tell. Sorry, I couldn’t spring for the SarcMark/Fetus/Two Dollar Boob Job. Until then, I will use the ȸ, Ʉ, or ɷ symbols to denote that I am being a dick, a big dick, or an ass, respectively. Or maybe I’ll just revel in the confusionɷ ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/30 "2010-01-14T00:09:19Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > What is the fourth word in that sentence? > > [Oh, really?](http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=define%3Agullible&btnG=Google+Search) Priceless. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/31 "2010-01-14T07:58:56Z")
So, wait, are you all being serious? Or what? I just wish we had some way of making it all clear, beyond using ‘words’ or ‘already existing punctuation’ or ‘universally understood emoticons’ or ‘personal judgement and experience.’ There’s a huge need for a random squiggly thing to get us out of the nightmare of our own making. I really wish someone would devote precious time and energy to creating one. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/32 "2010-01-14T11:12:45Z")
I thought the tongue smiley was sarcasm, anyway. That uses the standard character set, which means it’s more likely to be used than an obscure add-on. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/33 "2010-01-14T11:29:08Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > 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. You’re not very good at it, then. People had to ask my father to give them warning when he was being deadpan… I’ve known several guys who, like him, could say the weirdest things with a straight face. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/34 "2010-01-14T12:25:39Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > You’re not very good at it, then. People had to ask my father to give them warning when he was being deadpan… I’ve known several guys who, like him, could say the weirdest things with a straight face. I knew a guy once who could eat an entire wheel of Gouda and then extrude it through his pores. It was like watching a Play-Doh barber shop in action, only over his whole body. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/35 "2010-01-14T16:27:43Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > [Oh, really?](http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=define%3Agullible&btnG=Google+Search) Hey, **Poly** , you have a giant dickfer on your nose. Better get that checked out. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/36 "2010-01-14T18:19:28Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Hey, **Poly** , you have a giant dickfer on your nose. Better get that checked out. Are you positive? It looks more like a hehnway to me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793/37 "2010-01-14T18:24:47Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > Are you positive? It looks more like a hehnway to me. It’s a trap! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pay-for-a-sarcasm-punctuation-mark-oh-thats-so-worth-it/524793.md?page=1)