Bell and Shadows

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 >TILL
 >Oh, that's an easy one.  Let me answer it.  Unless the OT writers
 >indicated that they intended ceremonial laws, the tabernacle,
 >sacrifices, and such like to be "shadows" or "types," then it would
 >have been pure speculation for the NT writers to say that they were,
 >unless, of course, you beg the question of whether the writers were
 >"inspired of God," and I suspect you do want to beg that question,
 >don't you?
 >
 >Notice to Terry: The language in the above paragraph was sarcastic.
 >
 >RevGaud
 >Notice to Joe Alward: Sometimes sarcasm gets the point across quite
 >well.
 >
 
 TILL
 You mean that Joe has said something about sarcasm?  Is he now on a crusade
 to eliminate sarcasm from the list?
 
====================
Joe Alward:

Maybe we have different ideas about what constitutes "sarcasm".  I don't see 
it in Till's comment above; instead, I see somewhat good-natured fun-poking, 
but not the attitude described by Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary:

"sarcasm":  Greek sarcasmos, from sarkazein:  to tear flesh, bite the lips in 
rage, sneer  1.   a cutting, hostile, or comtemptuous remark  2.  the use of 
caustic or ironic language

There are various forms of sarcasm, to be sure, and the type Till used when 
he invited someone to shove something up his "filthy ---" I'm opposed to for 
obvious reason.  The other type of sarcasm is that which is used to make 
oneself look smart at the same time an opponent is made to appear dumb.  The 
audience instantly recognizes this for what it is:  a need on the part of the 
user show the listeners how much smarter--more clever--he is than his 
opponent, and that making his point is only his *secondary* goal; the most 
important thing is showing how smart he is.  This shows a lack of 
self-esteem, demeans the user, and it makes everyone uncomfortable; that's 
why it should be avoided, in my opinion.  Points of view should be exchanged 
as professionally as possible, in my view, and--also in my view--the best 
speakers and debaters don't have to use sarcasm to bring the audience around 
to their point of view.

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