I don't know if y'all have noticed … but I can get just a little snarky. I know exactly when it happened, too. I was in sixth grade, helping to write a Christmas play with the rest of my class, and discovered a penchant for witticisms. At the time it consisted of a lot of horrible puns and “Santa's fat” jokes, but in time, I've honed the craft. Sometimes it makes me come off like a huge booger, though, so I thought I would look into some of the reasons why I express my snark.
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I do, I love sarcasm. I love to hear it as well as give it – and thus take it as well. If I can't take a little snark in return, I would be the worst kind of hypocrite. The day that happens, I'm going to hang up my snark hat. Until then, however, I continue to worship at the altars of my sarcasm mentors. A lot of them are British. For instance, I just fell in love with Ricky Gervais.
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For me, sometimes being snarky is a means of defense if I feel threatened. For instance, the Better Half had this friend when we met. He was an admitted jerk, even his friends said so. He came with the snark, so I stepped up with it as well, and we instantly understood each other. We also instantly disliked each other, but that's another story!
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I started being snarky to make people laugh, no joke. All the way back in grade school, ripping on the teacher who was going to play Santa Claus. Mean spirited snark should not be a joke – although yes, I am guilty of it – but then, I would never walk down the street snarking about women I pass the way I do in blogs about celebrities. I'd get hit, man.
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I am a child of Oscar Wilde, what can I say? My favorite writers, dramatists, satirists, and comedians are all full of snark. Their humor and perceptions are based in sarcasm, and that's my favorite. I want to grow up and be Eddie Izzard, you know?
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Okay. I admit it. On the internet, your persona can be anything. Typically, it's you times ten. You can be anyone on the internet, after all – just look at match.com. I am 5'3” and can't run fast. I'll say it straight, I am never this snarky in real life unless I'm with people who know me, love me, and can't beat me up.
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Yes, I'll admit this, too. On those days when I am feeling blah about myself, i.e. during my period, I snark because it makes me feel better. I feel bloated as all get out, so I snark on some girl's skinny thighs. All I can say is, I'm trying to do better!
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You. Yes, you. All of you. Y'all are awesome. So if I can make you laugh or snort or get angry, if I can make you have some kind of reaction, if I can get you thinking so you can get me thinking, I'm all for it!
Maybe snark is like the Force and can be used for both good and evil. I'm not sure. Why do you think you might get snarky sometimes?
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