We're saved! (science news)

Sam Cogley · 06-20-2008, 04:31 PM

Scientists are now classifying sarcasm as a positive evolutionary trait.

Quote:

Humans are fundamentally social animals. Our social nature means that we interact with each other in positive, friendly ways, and it also means we know how to manipulate others in a very negative way.

Neurophysiologist Katherine Rankin at the University of California, San Francisco, has also recently discovered that sarcasm, which is both positively funny and negatively nasty, plays an important part in human social interaction.

So what?

I mean really, who cares? Oh for God's sake. Don't you have anything better to do that read this column?

According to Dr. Rankin, if you didn't get the sarcastic tone of the previous sentences you must have some damage to your parahippocampal gyrus which is located in the right brain. People with dementia, or head injuries in that area, often loose the ability to pick up on sarcasm, and so they don't respond in a socially appropriate ways.

Presumably, this is a pathology, which in turn suggests that sarcasm is part of human nature and probably an evolutionarily good thing.

How might something so, well, sarcastic as sarcasm, be part of the human social toolbox?

...

Sarcasm Seen as Evolutionary Survival Skill - Yahoo! News

Arik · 06-20-2008, 07:28 PM

Wow. That is great news.

Brikar · 06-20-2008, 10:34 PM

yeah. great. sure. whatever.

iamspenagain · 06-21-2008, 05:29 AM

Does that mean, since my wit is becoming sharper, I'm actually evolving?

Closet Racist · 06-21-2008, 07:46 AM

If I had a child that got sarcastic with me, I think it would prove to be an evolutionary dead-end...

Sam Cogley · 06-21-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Closet Racist stopped drinking long enough to mumble

If I had a child that got sarcastic with me, I think it would prove to be an evolutionary dead-end...

Better shut up then, 'Spen.

Daxie · 07-02-2008, 04:20 PM

sarcasm = evolving??? ummmm... ok... so fu*k it... I'm not being rude, I'm evolving!

Bean · 07-02-2008, 07:22 PM

As far as I'm concerned, this means I'm the most evolved person I know.

Daxie · 07-03-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Bean stopped drinking long enough to mumble

As far as I'm concerned, this means I'm the most evolved person I know.

ROTF!

06-20-2008, 07:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Arik Astro-Monkey Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here, dumbfuck! Posts: 2,304	Re: We're saved! (science news) Wow. That is great news. __________________ The writers of this post apologize for you being too stupid to understand it.

06-20-2008, 10:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brikar The Dude Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,585	Re: We're saved! (science news) yeah. great. sure. whatever. __________________ "A million monkeys typing until the end of time will produce the complete works of William Shakespeare. Ten thousand monkeys typing for ten thousand years will write a Hemingway. Ten monkeys typing over Columbus Day weekend will give you a Dan Brown." http://olympusmans.blogspot.com http://benforrealz.blogspot.com

06-21-2008, 05:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
iamspenagain Cymro's Bitch Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: The Nast 'Nati, Ohio Posts: 494	Re: We're saved! (science news) Does that mean, since my wit is becoming sharper, I'm actually evolving? __________________ If I could, I would marry a Magnum bar.

06-21-2008, 07:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Closet Racist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With a side of fava beans and a nice chianti... Posts: 1,202	Re: We're saved! (science news) If I had a child that got sarcastic with me, I think it would prove to be an evolutionary dead-end... __________________

07-02-2008, 04:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Daxie Patrons Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,010	Re: We're saved! (science news) sarcasm = evolving??? ummmm... ok... so fuk it... I'm not being rude, I'm evolving! __________________ >Hagar: "Before we go into battle today let me remind you what we're fighting for! We're fighting for justice! We're fighting for equality! What could be more important than that?"* >>Eddie: "How about a steady paycheck, health insurance and a good retirement plan?"

07-02-2008, 07:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bean The Awesome One Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Canada eh! Posts: 5,036	Re: We're saved! (science news) As far as I'm concerned, this means I'm the most evolved person I know. __________________ "I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing." --James T. Kirk

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