The Snark Overflows

Last updated on: March 13, 2021 at 11:53 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

The Snark Overflows 2021-03-13T11:53:15-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

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The snark generally consumes us. Avoid too much snark.

In a grad school lounge, at least in my ancient era, there was little lounging and a good bit of grading with maximum snark. The snark cup overflowed. A favorite tale was the professor, and this is true, who taught his seminar to an empty room, since all his students were sick. We had snark. This is the mode of the graduate student, our one power. This is seemly in that context, but not so much in grownups.

Example?

Too much political commentary consists of demonizing enemies. We recite what “they” think in a way that “they” would not recognize. If we bother to listen to the other side at all, it is to look for errors we can use to make them look bad.

Our politicians bloviate on the hypocrisy of the other side of the aisle. “How could they?” Naturally, when the situation is reversed, whatever the situation is, they thunder, “How could we not?”

They are humbugs skilled at humbuggery. This is a reflection of our own conversations. We get the politicians we deserve.

Yet the last paragraph is snark and the last sentence only partially true. I am guilty of snark decrying snark.

Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

The danger of snark is that a bit of snark can be helpful, exposing rot in the elite, but Snark bites and like a pit bull does not let go. Once started, I at least find it hard to stop, chewing away into entirety on the target. Snark becomes a posture and generates clicks and so we snark without end.

Instead, we should adopt a posture of kindness. What terrible things have caused the snark in the person at whom we would snark?

How can we be kind, even if the kindness is undeserved?

First, absolutely primary, is realizing that we crave kindness and we do not deserve kindness. We do to others as they would do to us.

Second, we cannot hate people, even if we hate evil ideas. How can we reject hate? Snark is best used on bad ideas more than on bad people. There are exceptions, Stalin and Hitler get what is coming to them, but most leaders are not Hitler and Stalin.

Thank God.

Even in those cases, for the health of our souls, snark probably should be limited. We focus on a good, true, beautiful alternative vision in our hearts less than our snark about “them.”

Next, we embrace learning from everything we read. This was most apparent to me when I read the Book of Mormon. Why did so many brilliant people find life here? The book did not, at first, appeal to me. Snark lurked, like Mark Twain ready to sack a literary reputation, but I missed the snark. Instead, I kept reading and saw how brilliant the Book is. I am no Mormon, not at all, but was able for a moment to see why my friends were Mormon.

This insight could have enabled better snark, but “no.” No more snark is needed. Snark is the tribute wit pays folly.When folly vanishes, when we finally see the Truth, then excelsior: further up and further into the Paradise of God.

The Snark generally consumes us. Avoid the snark, when you can.

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