Hey, genius … Yeah, I’m talking to you.
Hey, genius … Yeah, I’m talking to you.
Are you the type to always chime in on a topic of discussion with a snappy one-liner exhibiting a biting, rapacious wit?
If so, some Hawaii politicians and a nationwide collective of public relations professionals are asking you to cool it for one lousy day.
Think you can handle that?
Today is the second annual Snark Free Day, and island residents are being asked by the PRConsultants Group to refrain from making snarky comments and put a little more aloha into their interactions with others.
“We recognize that snark, while edgy and fun, has a very thin frame between it and incivility, and we think it’s a good thing for all of us to think about it, if only for one day,” the group said in a written statement about the effort.
Among those who agreed to lay off on the snark today is Mayor Billy Kenoi, who signed an official proclamation designating Tuesday as Snark Free Day on Hawaii Island.
Kenoi is joined by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell in recognizing Snark Free Day.
The reason behind the nationwide effort is simple: Snark is “having an impact on our communities,” according to the group.
“Four years ago, a survey found that two out of three Americans thought incivility was a major problem in our nation. Nearly three-fourths thought it was getting worse. We can only imagine what a survey would show today as the snark spreads.”
A 2013 Thunderbird School of Global Management poll found that 80 percent of those subjected to rude remarks lost work time worrying about it. Nearly half of the 800 employees and managers surveyed said they decreased their work effort as a result, and more than 75 percent said they were less committed to the organization.
“Certified wise-crackers may see their snarky remarks as clever diversions, but because the distinction between a joke and an insult can be nebulous, they can easily damage relationships and careers with their one-liners,” wrote Elizabeth Svoboda in a “Psychology Today” article titled “Field Guide: Sarcastic Masters.”
Kenoi’s proclamation puts it simply: “Snark is a societal problem and is starting to become a behavioral norm.”
“We accept snide remarks and rudeness displayed by our leaders, the media and even those in pop culture,” the proclamation reads. “Snark and incivility may seem harmless, but they do damage because words and expressions have power.”
For more information about Snark Free Day, visit www.snarkfreeday.com or become part of the discussion on facebook.com/snarkfreeday and use the hashtag #losethesnark.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.