The word sarcasm is descended from a Greek word which literally means “to strip off the flesh” - as in with a knife, or with one’s teeth. It is a violent word.
We don’t think of it in these terms nowadays, but perhaps we should. The damage that we inflict on others with our sarcastic language is no less painful. In fact, it might be much more so when we examine the big picture.
Join us this time on A Time to Sharpen as we examine the use and misuse of sarcasm in our work with teenagers. It may seem like they are impervious to the harsh criticism of parents, teachers, and counselors, but nothing could be further from the truth.
