sarcasm

I've been thinking a lot lately about sarcasm.

Defined as
1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.

Sarcasm kills communication.

Why don't I say anything when I see that sarcasm hurts people? Why is it that if I did, I would be a stick in the mud?

Sarcasm seems to be a cowards way out of saying what's on their mind without ever really confronting the problem, and they can always get their butt out of hot water by saying, "oh, I was only joking."

I was listening to a sermon a few days ago and he was talking about our speech and how we can use our speech to murder others. We talk about people behind their backs, we offer up "prayer requests" so what we can really do is gossip about them - don't get me wrong, this is hard, I talked about someone behind their back today without confronting them. Too much of a coward I suppose.

I'm beginning to hate sarcasm.

Thoughtless words cut like a sword. But the tongue of wise people brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18