I tend to lump irony and sarcasm together because of usage: When
   people *think* they're merely being ironic, they're actually
   being sarcastic. Good use of irony is rare. But dry wit (also in
   the family of sarcastic things I _suppose_), to me, seems
   distinctive enough from both irony and sarcasm to get its own
   category. This is my own internal "sorting mechanism" and may or
   may not reflect a shared reality by anyone else tongue emoticon
   == I don't let my emotional states be ruled by other ppls
   intentions. Defensive move and it works well smile emoticon ==
   Same. I've been called out on it a couple of times in my life,
   and it's always a shocker to me. I accept it now and I become
   more aware when I'm using it as a rhetorical device to convince
   someone of something. Its effectiveness depends on the
   individual you're conversing with but as a regular participant
   in online debates - for not particular reason except something
   to do really - I make use of it sometimes. But like - it can be
   an asshole move, so I try to use it sparingly. == You really
   should consider listening to what JS is saying, MC. It's not
   that you're wrong because what you say *does* make sense but...
   [that is an example of passive aggressive in writing]. == Are
   they responsible for being passive aggressive? Well, whether
   their intent was conscious or habitual, we can never REALLY know
   that. However, we -can- be made aware of our own intentions and
   actions. So in that, I believe (that softens potential passive
   aggressiveness - the "I believe" tongue emoticon ) - that MCs
   correct about responsibility: It lies solely in your own realm
   as we cannot control another person's actions. That being said:
   If you *want* to call out somebody on their passive aggression,
   you -can-. But to make them "pay for it"... as in "make them
   responsible for their words"... well... depends on whether
   you're up for the battle or not. like emoticon == [it's hard to
   express difference of opinion or preference _without_ some
   aspect of passive aggressive coercion. In that way, I sometimes
   like when people are really "naked" about their opinions:
   dramatic, full of hyperbole and fire and using STRONG words.
   But, it's hardly civilized. tongue emoticon ==