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What is it?
Sarcasm and irony are figures of speech where the literal meaning of the words is the opposite of the intended meaning. They can be used for humor or to make a critical point in an indirect way.
Examples
"Oh, another meeting? That's *just* what I needed today." (The person is not happy about the meeting.)
A fire station burns down. (This is an example of situational irony.)
How to Avoid This
Be careful when using sarcasm in writing, as it can be easily misunderstood without the cues of tone of voice. In professional communication, it's often best to be direct.
How to Counter This
If you suspect someone is being sarcastic, you can try to clarify their meaning. 'Are you being sarcastic?' Or you can respond to the intended meaning rather than the literal one. Sarcasm is not a logical argument, so it doesn't need to be 'countered' in that sense.