Can the use of satire and sarcasm be use effectively when making a point?

Question

Besides provoking anger and humor in people, can the use of satire and sarcasm be an effective tool when attempting to help people see their errors in logic and reason? Could these tools used to help people become aware of their silly thoughts and behaviours? If satire and sarcasm is used tactfully, can they motivate a human to a higher level of productive thought and positive invention for help and the discovery? Curious

Answer 1

Yes only if the person it is directed to is open to it and understands the point your trying to make. It also depends on the perosnality of the person it is coming from. If the perosn it is coming from is naturally condecending and can be provoking then the advice may go on deaf ears.

Answer 2

I think that they can, although I think that they work best when removed from individual interactions. For example, satirical writting has been very important in making political points.

However, when you are in a one on one conversation with someone with whom you disagree, then it is difficult to interject sarcasm or satire without offending the other person or bringing the conversation down to the level of an argument. I do believe that there are some people who are masters at the skill of sarcasm and can tactfully use it without offending, but I think that those people are few.

Answer 3

Satire, as long as it doesn't involve some serious aspect of the life of the person you're trying to teach, is not so bad.

Sarcasm comes from a Greek word which means 'to tear flesh.' (I learned that in an Alanon support group for families of alcoholics.) It is a tool used to cut, mock and reflect anger in a back hand sort of way.

Just say no to sarcasm.

Answer 4

Nursery Rhymes are satire, are they effectively making a point? Sarcasm can only be used effectively in face to face encounters, somehow they do not work well in the written format, so both are flawed almost fatally. Its better to use truth and humor to motivate people.

Answer 5

The person would have to understand the concepts first [I think]. At times I have used both and it just flies over the heads of the person I am aiming at. Not in a hurtful way.

Answer 6

Yes, only that satire and sarcasm take intelligence to be caught. Not everyone will get your point if you use these methods.

Answer 7

of course. readgulliver's travels by jonathan swift. it is nothing but satire and sarcasm about the english during the 19th century.

Answer 8

As Rush Limbaugh says, it's "illustrating absurdity by being absurd." Of course it can be effective, as long as it's not offensive to its intended audience. I believe one tends to cancel out the other.

Answer 9

Depends, most of the time it wouldn't work because the person you want to show how silly their behavior is, would be to immature for it to work.

Answer 10

I think they can be used effectivly, but the sarcasm should be obvious