I have just heard on r4 that someone has "invented" a new punctuation mark. It is known as the "sarcmark" and it's purpose is to denote sarcasm.
Isn't it fantastic (insert sarcmarc). How did we cope without it (insert sarcmark). Aren't you pleased that people devote their lives to....etc
In a lot of modern communication forms (like email and text) it is difficult to convey when you intend to be ironic. Most people use a stack of exclamation marks at the moment and this sarcmark is supposed to replace that.
I don't use exclamtion marks very often (it's like laughing and clapping yourself when you tell a joke) and I haven't sent a text message since 2005.
I won't be using sarcmarks on here. For the record though, unless I point out otherwise, it is best to assume that I am being sarcastic.
I hate exclamation marks. Like with canned laughter on TV and the use of LOL on text msgs and emails, I don't need to be given a cue when to find something funny.
Having said that, as I tend to read sarcasm in everything, maybe someone should come up with an unsarcmark!!!!! LOL!!! ROFL!!!