Member-only story
In a Sarcastic World, be Sincere.
One of the best traits of a 4-year-old is their earnestness.
My son, Malachi, only knows how to speak with sincerity. He has no idea what sarcasm is, his words are just exactly what he’s thinking (sometimes to a fault!). And when I watch him interact with his friends, they simply say the truth to each other without any posturing, any making fun, or any concern for how encouragement might make them look weak. I remember one of his friends coming over and his friend saying, “Malachi, that shirt is so cool! Check out my new socks!” It’s absolutely genuine.
Most adults I meet have lost this earnestness someone along the way and picked up the cultural language of America: sarcasm.
I don’t mean humor (sarcasm isn’t humor). I mean sarcasm, “the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.” It’s language that is meant to demean others (or yourself). It’s meant to cut, to hurt, and often to set oneself above another. A sarcastic person is, essentially, always asking the question, “What is there to make fun of, right now?”
The very word sarcasm derives from Greek words that means “tearing of the flesh.” It feels good to tear someone down; it hurts to be on the receiving side of it. Think about the last time someone made a sarcastic comment to you — did it help you? Did it bring you closer to them? Did it make you feel good…
