01-02-2010, 06:59 AM | #1 |
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Sarcastic vs Cynical - what's the difference?
Can someone explain what's the difference (and the similarities) between "sarcastic" and "cynical"?
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01-02-2010, 07:11 AM | #2 |
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My favourite English teacher at college said that sarcasm is biting: it aims to put down the person it is directed at. Cynicism is a world-view which reflects a jaded and misanthropic outlook at life. So sarcasm is aimed at people, and cynicism at situations.
This person seems to think along the same lines: http://gaffneyjournal.blogspot.com/2...-cynicism.html |
01-02-2010, 07:22 AM | #3 | |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Quote:
Sarcasm is the expression of a viewpoint in a way that indicates that it's the opposite of one's real opinion, often by tone of voice. Cynicism is the expectation that people will only act in their own self-interest, no matter what they say their actions will be. Or that events will not turn out as well as other may say that they will. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism seems to agree with my defintitions. Oh - and sarcastic is "having the character of sarcasm" and cynical is similarly related to cynicism. Miriam Webster does a good definition if cynical "contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives" |
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01-02-2010, 09:31 AM | #4 | |
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Quote:
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01-02-2010, 10:14 AM | #5 |
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It made a curious wordplay when a US journalist in a piece about the so-called Patriot Act writes: “It was hard not to think he was being sarcastic when George Bush called himself the leader of the Free World.” The use of sarcasm to express cynicism.
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01-02-2010, 11:02 AM | #6 |
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Irony isn't always related to speach or intent like sarcasm is, for example, getting run over and killed by an ambulance would be ironic. With that being said I think it's pretty a blurry line between intentionally saying something sarcastic and something ironic - at least it is blurry to me.
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01-02-2010, 10:46 PM | #7 |
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"Sarcasm" is derived from a Latin root meaning "to rend flesh," I believe, isn't it? I think it isn't merely speaking with irony or saying the opposite of what is meant, but doing so in a way intended specifically to hurt or belittle another person.
My definition of a cynic is "a wounded idealist." |
01-03-2010, 03:11 AM | #8 |
Bah, humbug!
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From an expert:
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01-03-2010, 03:44 AM | #9 |
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English is my second language, and sometimes I use my 'Danish' sense of the ridiculous. I often get into trouble... even on forums...
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01-03-2010, 04:37 AM | #10 |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Or as recently happened, breaking into someone's home with the intent of murdering them, because they depicted your religion as one encouraging terrorism...
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01-03-2010, 08:24 AM | #11 |
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Irony is only perceived, in this case, by some people, as I guess the one breaking in was just conducting his business with his God, and breaking and murdering was only a side-effect to him.
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01-04-2010, 08:47 AM | #12 |
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01-04-2010, 07:04 PM | #13 |
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All I know is that I'm a cynic who is often sarcastic. Ironic huh?
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01-04-2010, 07:07 PM | #14 |
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The cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing - Oscar Wilde
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01-04-2010, 07:08 PM | #15 |
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