Sarcastic friends drives me insane
So I don't have alot of friends, maybe like 6 friends. But I'm really getting sick of two of my best friends' sarcasm, I feel like it is ruining my trust in them.
They both know of my Asperger's syndrome and I've told them many times that I don't understand thier sarcasm and I would like them to stop, but they just keep being sarcastic to me! Sometimes it feels like they hate me and that they want to hurt my feelings, but they always say "it's just a joke, don't worry about it". One of them is worse than the other, she is really mean sometimes.
For example, one time in school we sat in the hallway and I could smell something wierd. I asked "what smells?" and my friend replied "you". When I started asking if I really smelt that badly she said she was just sarcastic, but I couldn't help but feel that I was smelling bad and worried about it the rest of the school day. That is not the meanist comment she has made. They always joke about my appearance and how I need to "fix my face", even though I have told them several times that I find it hurtful and not funny.
I don't get sarcasm. I don't understand why someone would say something that they don't really mean. My friends don't get that I don't get it, and they think I'm just way too sensitive (I am really sensitive though). No matter how much I tell them to stop they just won't. I don't know what to do, it's driving me insane.
Your friends should be more sensitive, but I'm guessing they've got an unfortunate mix of ignorance and immaturity. This isn't necessarily their fault, nor does it make them evil.
Also, by being over-sensitive you are making yourself a target. You've already explained that you don't like it, so I suspect that these so called 'friends' of yours are being sarcastic with you to elicit a negative response for their own personal enjoyment.
Either that, or you haven't asserted yourself properly.
I would suggest finding new friends, or using the ones you've got now as practice. Unless you hide in a cupboard for the rest of your life, you will be subjected to sarcasm, you will be subjected to insincerity. Not everyone will understand you or even care that you are ASD.
Learn to tell people to go and F themselves, and say it with a smile on your face.
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lostonearth35
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Young NT girls practically LIVE on sarcasm. I myself know how to be sarcastic but I can't always tell if someone else is joking or not about something. It's especially bad online where I can't hear someone's tone of voice, and I have to be careful about what I type in case people don't get what I'm saying. On the other hand if I clarify that I'm being sarcastic people might get offended because they knew I really was. Like last night when I said "some kids were real geniuses back at my school", I wasn't sure if people knew I meant the opposite, but I decided to assume most people would or risk getting that also ironic but nasty, vulgar reply "no s**t, Sherlock!"
It's hard to redirect sarcasm if you can't identify it in the first place!
My initial suggestion would be to just initiate a general chat about it sometime, maybe get someone a bit more mature involved as well. Just ask them how can I know when you're being sarcastic. Do it at a relaxed time, not in the heat of a sarcastic moment. Try and understand where your friends are coming from, and let them understand you better.
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Sorry to hear they are being mean to you. It sounds like they're purposely winding you up.
Don't tell them any more problems that you have, or that you don't understand their sarcasm, and don't show them you're upset, because it's giving them fuel to tease you even more. I would find new friends.
In my experience, people weren't really friends at school, they all picked on each other and expected you to do the same, or you became a target.
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Sarcasm is a fun to play, I honestly can get why they do it.
Personally I like using it and often use it in inappropriate moments - just to find people staring at me and wondering why I just said that or telling me it wasn't a good idea to be sarcastic. But it is fun and can be useful. For example I like the sarcastic "No". When someone asks you if you are going to do something that you don't like and you use the sarcastic "No" they will get the message: "I am going to do it but I honestly don't like the idea!" and if they don't care much there is a chance the next thing you hear is something along the lines "I see. I will do it this time." or "Get your ass down here and do it right away!" if they are serious about the request.
I do it even though I am unable to get sarcasm from other peoples voices just like you. However I have a method to pick up sarcasm without relying on the voice. It isn't too dependable but seem to work quite well. Logic and pastern recognition.
Today my grandpa used sarcasm against me. He suddenly gave me some money (10pln) and told me to give him 2pln back because he had no change and wanted to give me only 8pln. I freezed and started to wonder what is wrong with him - he never was specific about the amount he is going to give me (I was often getting amounts less than 20pln from him as a surprise gift by no occasion) and he was usually giving me any amount he currently had and if he got only huge bills he was giving me nothing. Why would he make a fuss over a mere 2pln? It was unusual so I figured out that he must be using sarcasm and I smiled at him as if I "got it" but I since I was not 100% sure I started to watch my grandpa carefully to pick up any more cues, ready to get a 2pln coin from my wallet if something tells me I was wrong.
My grandma clarified the situation soon: "Darling, stop making fun of her." - she said to grandpa and then told me: "Kate, grandpa is just joking. Don't worry about it.". - so my assumption was right.
Anyway. The "What smells?" - "You" is a classic kind of sarcasm. I use it too.
In moment like this my mind would go like: "Do I smell? Why would I smell? I took a shower last evening, my clothes are not 'old' yet and I don't feel any sweat on me and I was not stressed today. It's unlikely I smell at the moment. They must use sarcasm." and I would tell them "No. Really. I feel a funny smell and wonder what it is. Do you feel it too?"or in case I wasn't sure about my own smell I would say "For real?" and officially smell my pit. I have seen NT people doing it as an answer for this kind of sarcasm - you could smell yourself and check whatever it is true or not in this situation and they would get it as "I know you are joking but I decided to play along and pretend I believe you" as long as you have enough self confidence to do it without feeling embarrassed.
In my opinion the safest assumption when not being sure is thinking it is always sarcasm unless you can clearly see it is not. If you see sarcasm when it is not there you will be "a person with a sick sense of humor - better watch out". If you don't get sarcasm when it is there you are going to be "a fool with absolutely no sense of humor - easy to make fun of".
Sarcasm is a game using following rules: both players must change their voices when they lie, the one who smiles wins, the one who gets embarrassed loses. Self confidence is a key. NTs got advantage because they can hear the sarcasm in the voice, we can't. And they use the right voice automatically, we have to choose to do it but it isn't a huge problem once you get used to it, it's like the control pad in any other game (except controlling the tone of voice is like using the pad with feets, not hands for us ) . So basically the only thing we have to work on is finding clues other than tone of voice. Logic and experience vs natural talent. It isn't a game impossible to win. Even if they got easier start and win most of the time.
I used to have a therapist who was really sarcastic. Aside from that, he was very pushy and would always bombard me with questions and get impatient when I could not process an answer to his first question. I think he would work really well with someone who had ADHD or other behavioral problems, but not for someone like me. I am from Western PA. Snark and sarcasm is a common characteristic in people around here. I've learned to get used to it. A lot of those people have actually learned their lesson when they discover their habits are driving people away.
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