Beverly Hallberg

District Media Group Comms Tip of the Week 🎤

Earlier this week, US Senator Chris Murphy sent X into a frenzy with what he is now calling a sarcastic post.

His reply — “Awesome” — to a post about an Iranian fleet bypassing a US blockade led many to ask, reasonably enough, why he appeared to be supporting Iran.

When pressed on the uproar, Murphy acknowledged that he “should probably give up on sarcasm.”

Which raises a fair question: should anyone use sarcasm? A few things to consider:

Know the difference between a joke and sarcasm. A clear joke lands differently than a sarcastic remark. If you’re going to be funny, make sure it’s appropriate for the moment — and that you’re actually funny. Test your material on someone else before going public. Leave the improvised one-liners to comedians.

Sarcasm rarely works in public settings. Two reasons: first, brevity strips away context — an X post rarely gives readers enough information to know you’re joking. Second, people who don’t know you personally can’t read your tone. The last thing you want is for your audience to think you’re agreeing with something when you’re doing the opposite.

If you insist on sarcasm, signal it clearly. The safest move is simply to tell your audience you’re being sarcastic. It kills the subtlety, but it also kills the confusion.

It’s World Down Syndrome Day!

I couldn’t think of a better person to highlight than my cousin David, or a better excuse to share his recent hijinks.

David works at a school, and he LOVES the yearbook — getting his picture taken is a BIG deal. One year, he came home with a photo featuring a rather unusual expression. He explained to his mom that he wanted to be George Washington (he’s also a big fan of history and biographies).

Naturally, our family took it upon ourselves to turn him into a proper George.

This year, another unexpected expression appeared in his annual photo. When asked about it, he proudly stated that he wanted to be Ludwig van Beethoven. Of course, we turned him into Beethoven too.

(Don’t worry—he always goes back for retakes so he gets a classic “David” photo. My aunt goes with him just to be safe…after his Beethoven photo this year, he told someone, “Got away with it!”)

Life is fuller and more joyful with David and others with Down syndrome. If you get a chance, celebrate them and all they bring to the world.

Stay tuned—I asked what he’s planning for next year. His answer? “Michael Jordan!”