It's a smug mug, goes the idea, and you post it to indicate sarcasm or trolling.
Or we use it, as counseled by The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage, among other authorities, chiefly to indicate sarcasm, as in, "Dave looked down at the mangled, lifeless feline.
Think, for example, how tone of voice can indicate sarcasm, concern, or confidence.
The use of a nasal tone may indicate sarcasm.
For example, if you hear someone say "Aunt Prunella sent me this gorgeous pink and green paisley tie," the stress on the word 'gorgeous' would usually indicate sarcasm.
Although gestures such as head nods, body leans and thumbs-up signs may not be sarcastic in themselves, when combined with other verbal and non-verbal cues they are highly likely to indicate sarcasm.
Maybe it's indicating when you are JK (just kidding!), VENTING FRUSTRATION (all CAPS), or using italics or *asterisks,* to signal sarcasm.
Jassin argues that the style, though direct and at times discourteous, indicates a sense of irony, humor, sarcasm, and cynicism.
(Italics will indicate Chandler's sarcasm).
"I think Senator Obama has four pollsters, if I'm not mistaken," Mrs. Clinton said with some sarcasm, indicating that she saw him as a fellow politician.
