Posted on: 23 February 2012
Sarcasm. I’ve had this, always had (past tense, ok?), and I’ve been doing my best to stay away from it. There are times when I just say things as a matter of fact without realizing that I have offended someone or other people. The thing is, there is always a better way of saying things that won’t offend people.
Sometimes it is hard, or better say not that easy. I hang out with people who have strong personalities, though it doesn’t mean anything negative. We are just open to rebuke. If you say something that doesn’t favour us, we would just think of it positively and ask ourselves the truth behind it. We are open to correction. We are not defensive.
With this quality of openness we sometimes, or perhaps just me, forget that it doesn’t apply to everyone. There are still people who are sensitive.
Speaking of being sensitive, I’ve realized that I am still not one. Well, what I meant is being sensitive if people understood me well or have I made sure that my responses were appropriate.
I grew up in a military camp and, obviously, with a hint of military upbringing. When we get reprimanded, we don’t take it personally because we are not being reprimanded with any emotions involved. It’s all because of how we carried out tasks, and such. I grew up with that mentality. And as a follower of Christ, I am open to correction and rebuke. As long as I acknowledge that I made a mistake, I take accountability to it.
Of course, having this kind of school of thought, I have carried it to my day to day interactions with people. I sometimes forget that just because I am open to correction and forward reprimand doesn’t mean other people do. Just because I don’t judge people right away, even when they seem or actually say something against me, doesn’t mean people respond the same way.
When I write, I do so as if I am speaking out the words. When I write, it is as if the words have my voice. And most of the time, I just write things down assuming that people read my words the way they would hear me when I speak in person. Well, that is not always the case.
Since this morning, when I spoke with my mentor, I made the decision to be actively conscious with how I deal with people, especially when I make comments. I did not make such decision to please people. Definitely not. These are the selfish reasons I have:
1. I don’t want to be a mean person.
2. I don’t want people to have anything against me while I am way free from all tension. I mean, I don’t want people to have anxieties and bitterness, and what else. It makes me feel sorry for them.
3. I want to please God. For this main reason, I don’t want anything wicked be found in me.
I should come with a warning, something like this: Can be sarcastic without conscious intention.
Thinking about it, what’d it be like if I intend to be sarcastic? No way. Far be it from me!
I should also remind people that just because I don’t like someone doesn’t mean I am going to say anything against that person. I still give due respect.
Also, if a person has anything against me, it’d be better for that person to confront me directly. If he can’t compose himself to be civil, fine. I’ll take it. I wouldn’t hate that person. I’d rather have that than smiling lips but with mocking eyes.
