Why is irreverence coveted so much?

Post Reply New Topic

Why are irreverence, sarcasm, black humour etc. etc. coveted so much by people? Why are they coveted so much more than virtuosity?

Life is absurd, but people who realize this still have to go on living in the world. It's a coping mechanism (whether they acknowledge it or not)

Sarcasm can result in some really funny stuff. However, I'd rather people be honest and forthright when it matters.

For most people it is a simplistic type of humor to use. I can use it, but I don't get it a lot of the time other people do

not to be on the offensive, but i'm not sure that those sorts of humor are necessarily a direct opposite of being virtuous. i think all humor, and especially dark humor, is a people have of dealing with difficult things. isn't it a saying that we laugh so that we don't cry? of course, at times we can deal with it the wrong way, by using humor to insult or wound innocent folks, or make others feel smaller than ourselves. not to get personal, but did someone use this kind of humor to hurt you? if so, it wasn't the sort of usage of black humor that i'd support, i'm betting.

black humor in and of itself, depending on the situation and how it's used... well, i think it can be a great way to confront dark times. have you ever read any ambrose bierce? great work with sarcasm and dark humor during some dark times (reconstruction era america, possibly even darker than civil war era) i'd really recommend it to you perhaps as a way to see the value of dark humor. but it's probably not for everyone, so i wouldn't accuse you of being culturally illiterate if you didn't like it. just a thought.

That's OK, you weren't offensive. Black humour wasn't necessarily used to hurt me. Occasionally yes, most of the time probably not. I just don't have the sort of brain that can get round irreverence or sarcasm very well, as well as them being a difference in values to myself. Sometimes people have assumed I was offended when I wasn't, it's just that the communication was awkward. Haven't read Ambrose Bierce but I could look into that certainly.

Some possibilities:

1) Someone relying on those tactics may be hiding shortcomings where they may not be able to honestly communicate their thoughts. The "shortcomings" can be something external, like the nonacceptance of others for true honesty. If the person were to be truly honest, they would be considered rude, but by using sarcasm, for example, the person can sidestep the potential social ramifications.

2) Those are also considered signs of wit, which is valued in our society. So, someone may be using them to fluff their own ego or show off their mental acuity to others.

3) They are also used to intentionally put someone or down. It could be that they are intentionally trying to be mean, but by giving a potential double meaning, an oblivious person would not detect it. Intentional but joking is also used between friends.

That's a really good question. I enjoyed the mental exercise of trying to think of answers for it. Thank you.