I've noticed an escalation of sarcasm on DU, and I wonder why.

[babylonsister]

Is it fear, relief, stress?:shrug: I like it, but just sayin'...

Exhibit #1,032:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1144001&mesg_id=1144001

[ret5hd]

1. Utter Contentedness...

:sarcasm:

(i'm sorry, i couldn't help myself)

[Atman]

2. There's no sarcasm here.

Nooooooo. We're all just peachy keen, lovin' life and kickin it, awaiting our chance to take over the woooooorld.











;)

[WilliamPitt]

3. Yeah, right, like THAT'S true.

:eyes:

:P

[TayTay]

5. Yeah, like we'd ever do that. Sure.

Like anyone around here would ever be sarcastic...

[acmavm]

4. Just a natural reaction to this life is a shit sandwich situation our poor

country is in.

[crispini]

6. I blame the new sarcasm smiley.

:sarcasm:

[scarletwoman]

7. Yeah, right. Like DU was hardly EVER sarcastic before...

}(

[riderinthestorm]

8. It's all Clinton's fault

No! Wait it's Stephen Colbert's fault.

No! Wait a minute....
:sarcasm:

[sendero]

9. Naw..

.... it's Micheal Moore's fault!

[BiggJawn]

10. Because I'm fed-up.

The people in the front of the handbasket report seeing an orange glow in the sky ahead and a whiff of Sulphur, and what does our Media consider earth-shattering?

Brittany's knocked-up again by her gigolo...

Chris Mathews cums all over himself AGAIN wondering out loud about Hillary '08...

People are still getting shiny dildos rammed up their asses by Little Green Men...

And the Big Three of Detroit (well, the 'burbs, anyway) cook their numbers to assure us that an ever-increasing percentage of Murkan Sheeple are competing for dwindling resources by buying new penis augmentors, so they're gonna ramp up SUV production and kill any conservation projects. Oh happy days are here again for Generous Muthas, and remember, what's good for Generous Muthas is good for Murka...

Or was that RCA?

Who? RC-what?

[adriennui]

11. frustration and anger

feelings of hopelessness.

[babylonsister]

12. Jeezus, okay, I get it! But there's been a bit of mirth that has

replaced direness. :eyes: :spray:

[Richard Steele]

13. I THINK THEY SHOULD PUT A TAX ON PEOPLE WHO USE SARCASM!!!!!!

And don't _even_ get me started on all
those assholes with the silly usernames-
the bloody bunch of SPLITTERS!

[Touchdown]

14. I'm posting more than I usually do.

:evilgrin:

I hope you don't have me on ignore.:silly:

[babylonsister]

15. I've been here for awhile, and have never put anyone on ignore.

I just steer clear of those threads that I can't go to/get involved in.
BTW, not this one!
If someone is irked with me, I avoid them. Easy!

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

16. That's just the kind of post I expected from you, you typical...

... poster, you. :-)

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I think it's a symptom of the cumulative anger and frustration at what has been happening in the U.S.A. since late 2000. I feel it and I'm not even an American let alone a voter. I can't imagine how it must feel for you guys, but at least I get to read about it on DU (until it gets shut down by the Gov't).

While it has been said that "sarcasm is the lowest form of wit", I bet that person didn't watch _bush and his impersonator last Saturday. That was lower. I think you are forced to use fractions to describe it, as there was at least one half-wit involved.

[Jigarotta]

17. we are all frightened

and sometimes misdirect our anger.
a sarc tag can forgive you immediately even if what you said was unforgivable.
but we all know, for every :sarc: there is a reality in someone's mind. There is nothing new under the sun.

[Tactical Progressive]

18. I think sarcasm is a direct response to the unreality of Republicanism

A way to naturally invert the through-the-looking-glass dishonesty of right-wing ideology we are confronted with every day. Republicans and mainstream journalism promote ridiculousness like: it's not torture, it's 'rendition' or 'frat pranks'. Or that tax cuts increase tax revenues, despite that it has done no such thing repeatedly in practice let alone common sense. Clear Skies, Compassionate Conservatism, Republicans 'strong on terrorism', good job Brownie and a thousand other things that are so counter to reason, thought and honesty. What do you say to someone who insists to this day that Iraq was our terrorist enemy?

Sarcasm takes the whole thing, wraps it up and throws it down. Sarcasm lets you bring the surreality back around full circle.

Steven Colbert's entire schtick is satirical sarcasm, and what does that turn out to be? The real-life Bill O'Reilly and his ilk.