"Sarcasm often gives us license to be lightheartedly hateful."

Interesting post here from Lindsey Carlson.

She writes:

It's insincere. When a friend says something hurtful to me, I might say, "Man! What a jerk!" The semi-joking tone suggests I'm only kidding. Really, I mean it with all my heart. By making jokes I pretend I'm not hurt. I jab back and hope my sharp humor sends the message loud and clear: "I'm hurt. Back off." When in pain, I slip on sarcasm as a mask.

It's lazy. It's certainly easier and less socially awkward to hide behind humor when I feel threatened or embarrassed. But dealing in sarcasm is at best a temporary fix and at worst a catalyst for deeper and more substantial relational strain. Primarily or, worse, exclusivelyconfronting troubles in sarcasm is a passive-aggressive way to address my own sins and the sins of others.

It's dangerous. Regularly wielding sarcasm as a shield or a weapon—whether intentionally or unintentionally—can be problematic and dangerous. When I'm well-versed in witty banter yet lacking in words of edification and love, my sarcastic personality is no longer humorous; it's just hurtful.

Some good questions to ask:

1. Is there even an ounce of truth behind my sarcasm?
2. Would God be more glorified by my silence than my humor?
3. Will words of edification bring more joy to the hearer than words of sarcasm?

Read the rest.