many times the most difficult concept to communicate online is humour. words intended to be expressed in a funny way just can't be expressed the same written as they can be when spoken.
we can typically catch when a poster is being funny, or at least when they try to be funny. other times a post is read thinking it is funny when the author never intended it to be and wrote the post in all seriousness.
here we have both cases....
maybe what posters should do is to use the [sarcasm] label. all sarcastic posts could be mandated to use the label in deference to the d-m.com readers who have a deficiency in the funny side of things, so they can realize when to not take a post seriously.
at the same time, people who miss the sarcasm should just take a deep breath when they realize their mistake of taking the sarcastic post seriously, and come back with a better understanding.
in this instance that would be an understanding that d-m.com is not a community that tolerates discrimination. people may have a difference of opinion on political candidates but nobody that I read bases that difference of opinion on the race or religion of any candidate.
except of course the irish....
