Witty and humorous people make get-togethers come alive. Their satirical remarks are clever, funny, and timed just right!
Wit is spice of life. It is almost always spontaneous. It takes place when someone has a quick grasp of situation, inventive opinion, keen intelligence, and of course ‘humour’. If witticism is used discretely, to enrich expressions, and to also convey the desired message, it is good. After all, literature consists of vivid terms and insinuations, and that’s what makes the text rich.
But if it is humour, it is often at the cost of someone! To enjoy witticism, one requires an audience that is matured as well as that one shares a certain bonding with. If it is a friend taking a gibe at others in the group, friends accept the friend’s personality with the understanding that no malice is intended, even when the sharp tongue displays its character.
“Once again, depending on how close that person is to you, the forgive and forget comes into play…”
A friend, during a self-deprecating moment of humour, shared she had a black-&-white Lhasa Apso whom she took for a walk every day. My friend’s hair was prematurely greying, she had that ‘salt & pepper’ look. While walking the dog, a neighbour, with foot in her mouth, blurted out – “the two of you look like a family.” My friend was offended. Had this come from a family member, she would have found it hilarious.
Wit and sarcasm are two different conducts, and the difference is in the undercurrent i.e. the intention. As long as the ‘wit’ is used with those we share decent camaraderie, is not intentionally cruel, and is perhaps more ingenious (and funny) than teasing, it makes sense. Else, the thin between wit and sarcasm gets ripped, and what gets exposed is raw emotions and distress.
During a lively conversation, what if you concede that in your heart, you are craving to hurt someone or convey a toxic message? You unleash your quick little quirky remarks that are coated with sharp, biting humor, and deliver in a playful manner. The moment a person (or a couple of people) is singled out for verbal articulation, intentionally, for implications, it seizes to be ‘wit’!
There are times when the same ‘uncomplicated’ comment is received badly due to the mental state of the receiver. In a group, we need to be little wary of people who are ‘then’ sensitive. Their feelings could be fragile due to their own circumstances, and then, to receive a carelessly delivered incisive comment is surely damaging. I remember, way back in 2004, I was a reluctant attendee in a get together where an Air India pilot, a friend of ours, animatedly described his plight wherein he had to ‘accommodate a bloody dog in the cockpit’. I thought the remark was directed at me and fell in tears. It was a harmless account shared by a couple of friends, at a weekday party. I received it wrongly because I was mourning my beloved dog, whom I had lost just a few days before.
People say that ‘wit’, ok…in this case sarcasm, is often a residue of a hurting and disturbed mind. Many people aim to hurt others in the guise of humor, in return of the indignancy received, especially in cases where one cannot confront directly. This behavior may take place with an older sibling, relative, friend who is stronger in some aspect, or a colleague who is the ‘blue eyed’ boy of the bosses. We see this kind of humour rampant in Bollywood shows – slapstick, below the belt absurdity.
While ending this article, I would remind readers to keep life uncomplicated. Keep witticism to reflect intelligence and quick retort, but repeating yourself while degrading someone, is probably, not a wise choice.
Monica (Managing Editor) is the quintessential researcher - she thrives on showcasing overlooked aspects that form the foundation blocks of people, places and issues. She is a social scientist by profession with masters in Economics and loves to travel.