Can Aspies do Sarcasm and/or Irony?

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"Can Aspies do sarcasm and irony?"

No. Not at all.

Sometimes I have trouble telling when someone is being sarcastic, but once I establish that in my mind, it's pretty straightforward to understand them.

Best quote evar.

What a bunch of bullcrap. That is another sterotype about us. I can do sarcasm but I don't use it often because I have troubles undertstanding it myself but I still know some.


About irony, I don't really understand that word, is it the same as sarcasm so I don't know if I do it or not.

Last edited by likedcalico on 24 Jan 2007, 1:55 am, edited 2 times in total.

Like other responses here, I can use it but not really understand, unless someone uses a very obvious vioce tone. Most of the time, I'll just stare at someone dumbfounded, and ask if they are serious.

I use both all the time, especially sarcasm, and I have no problem picking up on either in books, film, or tv. In real life tho, I sometimes don't get sarcasm, epecially in text messages. I have even had to ask people if they meant what they said or were just being sarcastic. No one I know uses irony except me. Since I have studied writing and literature, and love British comedy, I have no problem comprehending it in entertainment.

I'm better with interpreting sarcasm than with irony because irony is more abstract. I'm VERY sarcastic, and since all of my friends are, I'm quite good at getting sarcasm. Now written sarcasm, on the other hand, is a completely different story. I rely on tone of voice, so without that, I miss lots of social cues...
-OddDuckNash99-

It's one of those Myths of Autism still floating around, kinda like the "Oh, but you make eye contact; you can't possibly be autistic" or "You have a sense of humor! You're don't have Aspergers!". Basically, as a group, we may have more problems with getting or giving sarcasm or irony, but that's definitely not an absolute. I know many auties online who get and give both-- and very well at that!

Althought admittedly, like others have said, I have no problems giving them (hey, I always understand my own jokes, too ), but sometimes I'm not always as quick to get sarcasm or irony.

It's all by degrees. Some people have more difficulties than others.

A good rule to go by for ASDs: THERE'S NO ABSOLUTES.

Frankly, I'm a bit baffled as to how one can use irony. Irony just happens.

Now recognizing it, yeah... I can see that.

I can do it I just generally can't understand it when someone else is doing it... I hope that makes sense.

The day there's a member more bitterly hated than ME... is the day I put on a bunny costume and go pole-dancing.



Send the costume, and schedule me in for later tonight.

I think aspies are capable of understanding sarcasm and irony, in a sense of being possible for them to learn how. However, they have to learn it intellectually and step-by-step, as opposed to picking it up intuitively, like NTs do.

yeah, I can go with that, I don't have the power to wield irony

Don't really understand the difference but I would say yes.

Seconded (thirded?), with the proviso that I recognize it in literature, or even on the screen. I only have difficulty when it's another real physical person standing next to me. Perhaps because I don't pick up the facial or tonal cues, I don't know.

I know people often don't get my own scarcasm/irony when I try IRL, because my face and tone of voice just don't flash up JOKING for them. It's soo much easier online where you can just put an emoticon at the end of the statement to show the spirit in which you're writing it! Why can't it be like that offline?

<sarcasm>no we cannot</sarcasm>
seems to work

No, I can't iron anything.

Another blasted pole... at least it isn't pidgeon English boy that's making it.