Bob is a sarcastic man. He uses sarcasm as much as possible. I avoid Bob because of this.
What’s interesting about Bob’s behaviour is how status roles determine his sarcasm level.
When he’s speaking to his superior, Bob is never sarcastic. When speaking to his inferior, Bob is regularly sarcastic.
When one of Bob’s underlings comes up to him with a serious question and Bob replies with a sarcastic answer. To me he is showing disrespect and condescension. In the subtext, Bob is saying I’m happy to waste your time. The inferior, then, has to show a response to the sarcastic comment. The main suspects are forced laughter, genuine laughter or stony silence. And from my observations the winner is ‘forced laughter’ with ‘stony silence’ getting stronger each day.
Be less sarcastic Bob! Your underlings will like you more.
Thomas Duggan 