A question regarding sarcasm.

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So, I'm confused about a conversation I just had.

Person#1: *in a sarcastic tone* I finally got a gym membership. Yay...

Me: You don't sound very enthusiastic.

Person#1: Huh?

Me: You know, because of the sarcasm.

Person#1: Exactly, I am.

Me: What?

Person#1: I'm using sarcasm because I'm enthusiastic.

Me: Huh?

Person#1: Well obviously I'm happy about the membership, because if I wasn't why would I go through the application process?

Me: I'm confused about what's happening right now.

Person#1: I'm purposefully sounding sad because I'm happy. Sarcasm is basically saying the opposite of what you mean, right?

Me: So, you're happy about this.

Person#1: Yes.

Me: But you're using sarcasm.

Person#1: Yes...

Me:

Person#1: It's sarcasm because I sound upset even though I'm happy. That's the joke. It's positive sarcasm.

Me: Wait, sarcasm can be positive? I thought that it was only ever used in a negative manner. Such as saying you're thrilled about something when you're actually dreading it to lightening the mood with comedy.

Person#1: No, sarcasm can be positive as well. It goes both ways.

Me: It does?

The person wasn't using "sarcasm," it seems to me.

It's more like the person was using "irony."

If you were amongst people who care about such things, then it's not overly pedantic.

But this is more like something to do with close friends, rather than acquaintances.

In an "acquaintance" sort of situation, it's probably best not to harp on semantics too much. People tend to get irritated when somebody harps too much on semantics.

I wouldn't mind it----but most people would probably mind it.

I had to learn this the hard way.

I feel that is your right. If you don't like "food in your drink," I wouldn't mind it if you did what you did. I don't find that to be impolite.

If it's a close friend, I would say you both should be helping each other "get things right." And not to scorn each other if either one of you "gets things wrong."

The problem is that people tend to think that people who call them out for "getting things wrong" tend to have a superiority complex, and to want you to feel inferior. This should not be the case with friends. If x is x....then it is x, and not y.

But I do believe in being diplomatic about it, and I seek not the make the other person feel inferior through "correcting" them. I would emphasize that you're wrong about some things, too....and that you are not "superior" to the other person for having a superior knowledge of one thing.

If something is irony, rather than sarcasm, I would want to know that, so that I learned something.

Just like you did with me. I mentioned something, you did some research, and you learned something. That's the way to go, in my opinion. There are things I don't know which you know. No doubt many things (because you seem to have lots of knowledge).

I might feel a little down on myself if I'm "corrected"----but, the reality is, it's better to take the correction and learn something----than it is to brood about it and refuse to acknowledge the correction.

saying the opposite as a joke goes both way. frinstance, a person happily gobble yummy food. "i;m sorry you hate it."

but that gym thing was confusing.

that person could get confused in the first place. because they got labeled with "sarcasm" while it wasnt exactly their intention. and then they did sort of a hedgehog on that, because they felt awkward and didnt know how to react. im sorry to say it, but that is a bit impolite to inquire like that. unless a VERY close friend. would be easier to just congratulate them on that membership and leave it there. safer that way)