Comedy Around The World is still at JFK in NYC waiting for PLANE.  I thought I'd combine something I just now read from one of my Facebook friends (and fans) Scott Ginsberg.  Scott is "The Nametag Guy", offering excellent ideas and tips for promoting your business.  (It was his recommendation that I blog every single day, and I do!) 

His latest entry was "14 Obligations of All Creative Professionals."  Number 11. was, "Create New Connections."   

As I was waiting, reading, walking, writing, etc. during the 4-hour lay-over for my impending ten-hour flight, I thought about sarcasm.  As probably everyone would do given this scenario.  The Greek word means, "to tear flesh." 

A friend of mine told me her story of clearing out the corn crib at her farm.  While picking up a corn cob, she felt a sharpness in her hand.  Thinking it was "just" a splinter she immediately tried to pull it out.  It was WAAAAAAAAAAAAY more painful than a splinter-pulling should have felt.  That's when she noticed that it wasn't a splinter--it was a porcupine quill!  Why did it hurt so badly?  It was hooked on the end.  So it wouldn't--and couldn't--be pulled straight.  It literally ripped the flesh on the way out of her finger. 

That's how sarcasm works.  Like a porpupine's quill, it is an effective device: 

1.  It protects us.  It can prevent someone or something from attacking us--especially the bully whose only language is this.  The quills protect the animal's hide and our sarcasm protects our pride.  

2.  It delivers its sting in the appropriate place, so it is very efficient.  Whatever the mechanism is for shooting the quills, it is brilliant.  If you have ever seen its effects on a dog, you know the porcupine probably made it out of the encounter safely.   Our sarcasm is also efficient--its directness and sting go right to the center of the offender. 

So what's the problem with quills and sarcasm?  

1.  We can't see the effect our words have, just like my friend didn't see the real shape of the quill before it punctured her finger. 

2.  We can't easily take back those sarcastic words.  My friend learned how tough it was to remove the quill from her finger--after it had already hurt her.   

3.  Sometimes they are both unwarranted.  My friend didn't ask for that painful incident.  And people don't always invite our sarcastic remarks.  Maybe we misread their intentions or motives and we responded with our sharp-quilled words.  We wanted to protect ourselves in a situation in which we weren't truly being attacked. 

We don't have to act automatically like the animal with his protective instincts.  We can take a moment and realize other people's styles of humor.  We can think to ourselves, "Maybe they were just trying to be funny."  If they weren't, we can deal with it in time.  If they were, we can laugh along with them.  "Get Your SHINE Together!" and get our of your corn crib safely.