Sarcasm punctuation mark aims to put an end to email confusion - Polidicks

[quote="The Telegraph"]Now a US firm has come up with an ingenious solution to this very real problem – a new item of punctuation. The SarcMark, as it has been named, is designed to be used in the same way as an exclamation or question mark. Anyone concerned that the irony of their email or text message might not be appreciated by its recipient can use the symbol to close their sentence, thereby avoiding awkward misunderstandings. The symbol – a dot inside a single spiral line – can be installed onto any PC running Windows 7, XP or Vista, as well as Macs and Blackberry mobile devices. It can then be used in Word documents, instant messenger conversations, Outlook email and other programmes, just by pressing Ctrl and the full stop button. The Michigan company behind the SarcMark have applied for a patent to protection their invention. They have even published a sample list of sentences that would benefit from a SarcMark, including the words of British woman who was awarded only half of her National Lottery jackpot by a court after the winning ticket fell from her pocket and was claimed by someone else. It appears that the irony of her statement – "It's jolly decent of them to let me have a half share of my win" – was lost on some readers. Paul Sak of the firm said that the new punctuation mark was not a gimmick and had serious potential applications, such as allowing deaf people to pick up sarcasm in subtitles. The symbol currently costs $1.99 to download – a price that many may think deserves a SarcMark of its own. [/quote] [url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6995354/Sarcasm-punctuation-mark-aims-to-put-an-end-to-email-confusion.html[/url] BTW, you don't need to buy it, they have transparent png versions all over the site: [img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img]

[i]Yes, because i really want to use that[/i][img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img]

Wow, that's a really good idea[IMG]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/IMG] [sp]rate me funny.[/sp] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Spoiler tag abuse" - TH89))[/highlight]

It could work if they make it totally free and make it a fad some how [editline]04:35PM[/editline] But we all know that's not going to happen

That's an ingenious idea. The days of my confusion are over.

do we really need this?

[QUOTE=Urog;19644836]do we really need this?[/QUOTE] Absolutely.

Anyone with even the simplest understanding of English can pick up on sarcasm. This is such a good idea.. See? I bet you could tell that was sarcastic.

I think i would be more confused with that

why is this needed its not hard to tell if something is sarcasm or not

[QUOTE=Bad)-(and;19644872]Anyone with even the simplest understanding of English can pick up on sarcasm. This is such a good idea.. See? I bet you could tell that was sarcastic.[/QUOTE] It for idiots like 12 year olds that can only say things like "I PWN U NUB" and crap like that.

[QUOTE=NotYou3;19644880]why is this needed its not hard to tell if something is sarcasm or not[/QUOTE] It can be on the internet if you're your grandma reading an abusive email from her grandson oh god I just confused the hell out of myself.

[QUOTE=NotYou3;19644880]why is this needed its not hard to tell if something is sarcasm or not[/QUOTE] Well, you're a very handsome man

[QUOTE=Urog;19644836]do we really need this?[/QUOTE] What is wrong with you? This will change communication in ways you could never imagine[img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img] The fact that you are completely blind to this fact, truly sickens me to the core[img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img] Just kidding, I'm actually deeply in love with you[img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img]

This has a lot of potential, definelty a good idea! I didn't need a freaking sarcasm mark for that did i?

Because we totally need more weird squiggly lines @

[img]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01559/sarc_1559744c.jpg[/img] It looks like a boob.

This is the best idea anyone ever had

[QUOTE=windwakr;19644826]I'll just stick with "[/sarcasm]".[/QUOTE] And I'll just stick to not indicating whether I'm using sarcasm and let them guess.

I got a new symbol too, its for when you are horny OMG LOOK AT THAT CHESSECAKE[img]http://filesmelt.com/dl/HornyPNG.png[/img] [img]http://www.meals.com/ImagesRecipes/124042lrg.jpg[/img]

I doubt it will catch on.

I'm going to use this symbol all the time[img]http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2936/51o2o867.png[/img] [quote]The Michigan company behind the SarcMark have applied for a patent to protection their invention. [/quote]If they are planning on patenting an "invention" intended on being used for mass communication, how can anyone use it without violating patent law? Clearly, they intend this to be a novelty, not something that would ever be added to international keyboard layouts. [editline]1[/editline] AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I REFERRED TO! The fucking thing was REMOVED by those over-zealous copyright-obsessed pricks.

What a fucking great idea[img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img]

I'm going to buy this for everyone because it's so awesome [img]http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2936/51o2o867.png[/img]

I'm still confused, I want my money back.

This has solved all my communication problems![img]http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2936/51o2o867.png[/img] I wonder if people will start to use this in normal conversation to denote sarcasm to stupids?

About damn time [img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img]

Looks similar to 3ds max icon [img_thumb]http://www.pycomall.com/images/P/p.png[/img_thumb]

[QUOTE=Intoxicated Spy;19644727][i]Yes, because i really want to use that[/i][img]http://02d9656.netsoljsp.com/SarcMark/images/graphics/rk.png[/img][/QUOTE] [i]Excuse me sir, that'll be $1.99, please.[/i]

I ain't buying this shit.