The Tribune is promoting the ~S for the SarcMark in this editorial. Apparently the one that has been proposed (picture in the article) was developed by Sarcasm, Inc., out of Michigan, and they charge $1.99 for the software for it. The Tribune's is free!

The article is all in fun, but I see their point. I think a SarcMark would be helpful...perhaps not for all writing, but for more informal writing. Thoughts?

That sarc mark looks like a ball of poo coming out of an intestine. I guess that's pretty sarcastic, all right.

I think it's a great idea. I'm sure it will catch on.

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I think a SarcMark would be helpful...perhaps not for all writing, but for more informal writing.

We've existed without one for several centuries now, and can't see why its introduction should be needed now. I thought it was irony that Americans didn't understand, not sarcasm?

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The article is all in fun

Or parhaps it's meant to be sarcastic, despite their disclaimer?

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I thought it was irony that Americans didn't understand, not sarcasm?

Odd that Bierce's Devil's Dictionary doesn't have an entry for sarcasm. This, however, is now in fairly common use, even in the USA: Sarchasm: The giant gulf between what is said and the person who doesn't get it.

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I thought it was irony that Americans didn't understand, not sarcasm?

Aw heck. We understand irony...just not in the same way the British do.