Noooo, really?

It would be safe to say that I was raised on sarcasm...my grandfather was sarcastic, my mother was sarcastic, my uncle, my brothers, sisters, dogs, cats....you see? I would have to say, these days my nephew, Justin is the master....it's like it's been perfected through the generations. It's in me, I have heard it and practiced it my whole life... and, honestly...I love it. Sarcasm makes me laugh like no other form of humor. It makes me happy, it makes me laugh. On the flip side, I have become more aware lately of the damage that sarcasm can potentially cause, both to the giver and the receiver. I mean, I'm sure I was aware before....I was just too busy laughing to do anything about it. I have heard it said that "sarcasm and vulnerability cannot coexist". It can be used as a way to avoid an issue or a feeling that comes up or to lash out and be hurtful and then be able to say..."I was just joking"....I have been guilty of both. I feel like many things, sarcasm is OK, if used responsibly and it can be dangerous when used carelessly...especially by those of us that are seasoned veterans. So, how do we know when we are using it "responsibly"?.....if the person it's directed at isn't laughing....it's not funny. Sarcasm should be used to make people laugh, not to make them cry....unless, of course, it's REALLY funny :)