Do you know satire?

From Art and Popular Culture:

Satire (from Latin satira, "medley, dish of colourful fruits") is an artistic form, chiefly literary and dramatic, in which human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, sometimes with an intent to bring about improvement. It is used in graphic arts and performing arts as well. Although satire is usually witty, and often very funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humour but criticism of an event, an individual or a group in a clever manner.

I think it's amazing how many people take what I write so literally. I get messages offering support and guidance (to my email, mind you. I guess people don't want to leave those comments on my blog). People who are concerned with my mental state and my stability.

So, for those of you who are concerned, let me make this ABUNDANTLY CLEAR:

I AM BAT-SHIT CRAZY.

You get that? That's called sarcasm. This, and other writings of mine can also be classified as satire.

I am not, I repeat NOT a serious writer. Or maybe I am. One of the two.

Here's the important part. Gather 'round my tender lumplings, as I'll only say this once. Almost everything I write is humor, satire, and sarcasm. Do I have some serious posts? YES. Do I have some vent posts? YES.

When I write about my bipolar disorder, I'm doing so to add humor to an otherwise taboo subject. People don't like to talk about mental illness. It's a touchy subject. One of us "crazies" might get offended or upset or go into a raging psychotic episode. (satire, people).

Which is why I write about it. If I can put a humerous spin on it, maybe people will stop being so judgmental. Maybe people won't be afraid to talk about it. Maybe, just maybe, someone will learn something. And if not, maybe I can get a laugh.

Take everything I write with a grain of salt. If you know me, you know I use humor as a means to get my message across. You take away that, you take away my voice. And also my most effective coping mechanism. See that? I use humor as a defense mechanism. To handle stressfull situations. That's psychology, people. I just taught you something.

You're wellcome.