If you've ever been in the creative department of an ad agency, you already know they're hotbeds of bold ideas, original thinking, sexually transmitted diseases and ironic t-shirts.
There's also one other thing you'll find plenty of: Sarcasm.
Come to find out that's a good thing. Scientific American reports that in a study of sarcasm, looking at the sarcaser and the sarcasee, it turns out sarcasm triggers creative sparks for those dishing it out as well as those on the receiving end.
That explains everything. Like when the planner wearing the knit cap, skinny jeans and no socks calls a meeting to give their latest and greatest insight (The consumer wants to be engaged with the brand!), they're not inviting ridicule. Far from it.
They're inviting sarcasm so the creatives in the room will be more creative. The planners are doing us a favor. Now it all makes sense.
The study goes on to say that sarcasm between people who trust each other can have these beneficial effects without creating conflict.
Which explains why conflict is something you never see in agencies.
