Self-Deprecating Humor In Decaf Poopacino By Dave Barry

Dave Barry

In society today, people are becoming more and more easily offended. A simple joke is often times blown way out of proportion instead of being laughed off and taken as just that. Dave Barry, a comedic essayist, understands that idea, which is why he uses self-deprecating humor to distract the readers from the fact that he is making fun of them. Along with the use of sarcasm and hyperboles, this form of humor is, at times, relatable and allows him to get certain points across without offending his readers. In one of his Essays, “Decaf Poopacino”, he is making fun of the fact that Americans order the craziest drinks when at coffee shops. The point of this essay is to express that people, like him that want a simple coffee, are tired of waiting in line while the baristas make crazy drinks that serve no purpose. The use of hyperboles help get his point across. For example he says, “It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.” As we know, nobody will die from a lack of coffee, but many people do rely on it heavily, so this exaggeration helps the readers relate. Although he is making fun of the people that drink the fancy drinks, he is relating to the people that just want a plain old coffee. You also find the use of hyperboles in another piece where Barry is explaining

They are all somewhat relatable and enjoyable, and the use of sarcasm and hyperboles make the reader feel less bad about themselves. When he relates himself to the situation, as well as includes small anecdotes about his own personal experiences, it helps the reader feel like they aren’t alone in certain situations. His columns are meant to point out our flaws, but to also let the reader know they aren’t alone. Maybe we aren’t so different after