Whatsoever you do to the least of My brethren, that you do unto Me.

[Photini]

Making belitting remarks about oneself when someone else attempts flattery.

Another question-- does this really effectively aid in becoming humble?

 

[Matrona]

Another question-- does this really effectively aid in becoming humble?

I think self-deprecation can be a form of arrogance. Self-deprecation can be used a way of fishing for compliments while attempting to put on an air of personal humility.

Except for me, that is--my self-deprecation is just telling it like it is.

 

[twosid]

Except for me, that is--my self-deprecation is just telling it like it is.

Nobody belittles themselves quite as well as you.

 

[MariaRegina]

Another question-- does this really effectively aid in becoming humble?

It is said if you can joke about yourself, then life is easier for everyone.

 

[Photini]

It is said if you can joke about yourself, then life is easier for everyone.

Sure. But I've never looked at that really as sarcasm.

 

[nikephoros_spatharios]

Dear Oblio: Could you comment on the Fordham file - is this even considered accurate or is it a forgery?

This is the original Greek text. The English translation appears to be accurate.

"Allôs de, poia
kibôtos nun para Ioudaiois, hopou hilastêrion ouk
estin, hopou ou chrismos, ou diathêkês plakes, ou ta
hagia tôn hagiôn, ou to katapetasma, ouk archiereus,
ou thumiama, ouch holokautôsis, ou thusia, ou ta alla (35)
ta poiounta semnên tên kibôton tote ekeinên? Emoi
tôn epi tês agoras pôloumenôn kibôtiôn ouden amei-
non hautê hê kibôtos diakeisthai dokei, alla kai pollôi
cheiron. Kai gar tous pariontas ouden men tauta bla-
psai dunatai, ekeinê de pollên kath' hêmeran tois (40)
autêi prosiousin ergazetai blabên."

 

[countrymousenc]

Dear Dianne:

I wrote the above in frustration, not sarcasm. I am a linguist and realize how difficult it is to write and especially to speak clear utterances which avoid all ambiguity and sarcasm. For me it's impossible, but with God all things are possible; hence, the necessity of prayer and fasting to learn to control my tongue. For this reason I find myself continually editing my posts so that my message is clear and honest, charitable and polite, brief, and relevant to the conversation at hand (following Grice's four maxims of conversation: clarity, relevance, quality and quantity).

Lovingly yours in Christ our God,
Elizabeth

I appreciate the explanation. We still don't have a working definition of sarcasm upon which we have all agreed, so it is not yet possible for us to draw a unified conclusion or even discuss this logically.

Second, you "wrote this in frustration, not sarcasm." "Frustration" in this sentence has to do with your emotional state, not whether you actually engaged in sarcasm, whatever your intent may have been. Intentions do not necessarily determine outcome.

Since you are a linguist, you should be able to provide us with a definition of sarcasm from an authoritative source. We can compare it to what we've been thinking, and to what our dictionaries say, and come to an agreement. Then it will make sense to continue discussing whether sarcasm is always sinful.

 

[Michael G]

To me satire and sarcasm are different. Satire to me is good and healthy, because it helps us remember we are people. I have a hard time remembering that at times. It reminds us that even if we practice the true faith, we sometimes do silly things. That is why I LOVE TheOnionDome so much, because he author of that site does such a good job showing the funnier side of the serious matter of Orthodoxy. Sarcasm to me is acidic, and is usually said with a bit of fire to it. I have a real hard time with it and so atleast to me, it is not good for me to be making sarcastic remarks about people and things.

 

[MariaRegina]

To me satire and sarcasm are different. Satire to me is good and healthy, because it helps us remember we are people. I have a hard time remembering that at times. It reminds us that even if we practice the true faith, we sometimes do silly things. That is why I LOVE TheOnionDome so much, because he author of that site does such a good job showing the funnier side of the serious matter of Orthodoxy. Sarcasm to me is acidic, and is usually said with a bit of fire to it. I have a real hard time with it and so atleast to me, it is not good for me to be making sarcastic remarks about people and things.

Very well stated.

Paula had this to say:

The word sarcasm is from the Greek sarkasmos, meaning to tear flesh, bite the lips in rage, sneer, Note that Webster's has two definitions for sarcasm:

1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain

2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm

I will check the definitive dictionary used by linguists: the Oxford English Dictionary and see how it describes sarcasm.

 

[MariaRegina]

Heads up

We just got a new smilie to replace that sarcastic rollyeyed thing.

Welcome aboard

Thank your Erwin! He's so cute.

http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=8021310#post8021310