Cutting Sarc

Us Brits know only too well that our US cousins and many others to whom English is their first language but wot don't speak it proper don't "get" irony and sarcasm, and take us literally in our texts and twts, taking what to us was intended as a humorous aside as a cutting comment and getting very upset.

So, A US firm has come up with an ingenious solution to the very real problem of sarcasm in text being miunderstood – and has designed a new item of punctuation. Torygraph:

The SarcMark, as it has been named, is designed to be used in the same way as an exclamation or question mark. Anyone concerned that the irony of their email or text message might not be appreciated by its recipient can use the symbol to close their sentence, thereby avoiding awkward misunderstandings.

The symbol – a dot inside a single spiral line – can be installed onto any PC running Windows 7, XP or Vista, as well as Macs and Blackberry mobile devices. It can then be used in Word documents, instant messenger conversations, Outlook email and other programmes, just by pressing Ctrl and the full stop button. The Michigan company behind the SarcMark have applied for a patent to protection their invention

A patent for a bloody squiggle that looks like an @ with a . on it, and a charge of $1.99 to download it! One could almost be sarcastic about that

Actually, I've a better idea - how about using the "pull tongue" icon like we always used to in The Olde Days. Open Sauce and al that............

Update - the Gorgeous Liz Varley reminds me that the French invented one in the late 1800's.

Update - I put up the video which I found on YouTube.... could the lads just possibly be taking the p*ss - and oh dear, someone takes it seriously