Forums > Social Discussion > teasing amoung friends and honesty

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linden rathenGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
im not sure if this has been posted before - i couldnt see it when i searched so im hoping its ok....

i was just wondering how people viewed teasing amoung friends.

when i say teasing i mean teasing - bullying is something all together different. the teasing i mean is the very viscous insults that go back and forth but arnt meant.

personnaly i think (certainly among blokes) its a bonding thing.

my main question is two fold - is it ok? and should other people 'butt in' (as in asking one party to stop 'bullying' the other etc)?

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fNiGOLD Member
master of disaster
3,354 posts
Location: New York, USA


Posted:
nothin wrong with ripping on each other in good fun so long as both know its in jest

kyrian: I've felt your finger connect with me many times
lou kitten: sneaky little meatball..
ezz: please corrupt me more


mausBRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,191 posts
Location: Sihanoukville, cambodia


Posted:
I'm awful for teasing my friends,and i know i am.

However i also put effort into letting them know how much i care about them all the time aswell.
Because i think that although teasing among friends is fine as long as its only meant in jest,if its done too often it can start to be taken offensively even if the person knows its a joke,

And for example...i very rarely tease about personal issues...weight/appearance/job etc.
Because its always the more superficial things that hurt the most,even when its not meant that way.

Gayle......!SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
2,444 posts
Location: Bristol !!!!!!, United Kingdom


Posted:
ditto Maus.

I'm awful for it as well. I don't mean any harm and grew up in a male dominated environment and still work in one. I need to be able to cope with people teasing me and often tease people back without realising...But i love my friends to bits and tell them lots.

Gayle.....!


Fine_Rabid_DogInternet Hate Machine
10,530 posts
Location: They seek him here, they seek him there...


Posted:
 Written by: linden rathen


personnaly i think (certainly among blokes) its a bonding thing.




Uhhuh. That's the way I see it two. It's certainly the mentality we have around here at my school, anyways.

With guys, I find that I can be overly harsh, but I'm always told if I've overstepped the mark, and I'll apologise and stuff.

With girls I tend to be more careful. As long as there's giggling, its all good, but it sucks if they start to take it seriously. I don't think I've ever harshly teased a girl, but I think that's down to my gentleman-ly roots. wink

The existance of flamethrowers says that someone, somewhere, at sometime said "I need to set that thing on fire, but it's too far away."


AsenaGOLD Member
What a Bummer
3,224 posts
Location: Shatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom


Posted:
Teasing among friends is perfectly acceptable, and the better the friend the harsher you can be ubblol

I have a house mate he seems to think the best way to make friends is the teasing and bitchy route, needless to say, shes fairly lonely right now....

I love teasing tho, I have to put my mind to something, and if its ripping it out of people, then hell, I'm there biggrin

RoziSILVER Member
100 characters max...
2,996 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia


Posted:
It is a very Australian thing to tease your mates. As a rule of thumb, the more you like someone the ruder you are (kinda sounds like we are back to primary school crushes and hair pulling, doesn't it? wink ).

I know that people from overseas find it very confusing and sometimes very hurtful. Its something I really have to watch in myself to curb that behaviour when someone doesn't understand it or is hurt.

It was a day for screaming at inanimate objects.

What this calls for is a special mix of psychology and extreme violence...


Pen DravenUnofficial Lord Of Confusion And Pirate Extrodinaire
1,363 posts
Location: Nuneaton


Posted:
Same here,, I'm a chronic tease with most people but theres never any malice involved,, i know once or twice I've gotten into it and forgotten that maybe the new person I've just met doesnt realise I'm playing,, but a quick apology and an explanation that its just me being me seems to sort things out.

Some men see things and say why....

I Dream of things that never were and say Why Not....?

Oh No I'm going to get Shot Alive if he finds out - DA wink


Neon_ShaolinGOLD Member
hehe, 'Member' huhuh
6,120 posts
Location: Behind you. With Jam


Posted:
The way I see it, within a group of friends, the more you like someone, the more attention you pay to them, this definitely includes taking the mickey. If someone is not as well liked they're more likely to be ignored so the mickey-taking should be seen as a sign that they are well liked.

But there are those who may have certain insecuries about themselves and/or their standing within a group and with take the good-natured jesting far too much to heart. These people may have a tendency to keep themselves to themselves in a group situation. Attempts to intergrate them into the group via this mickey-taking have had the adverse effect into making the person more withdrawn unbeknownst to the rest of the group if that person doesn't talk about it...

I'd say with this just be careful and know that those you are ripping the p**s out of are more than capable of dishing it back out...

"I used to want to change the world, now I just wanna leave the room with a little dignity..." - Lotus Weinstock


Hanzveteran
1,328 posts
Location: Bendigo, Vic, Australia


Posted:
I pick on some of my friends all the time, some more than others... we can get really personal at times, but it's all in good fun. Also, we make sure to pick on ourselves at the same time, whether it be in first or third person.. "gee, that Hanz chick, what a loser!"

Some people don't take it well, like, I always muck around with one of my mates, and his girlfriend gets really offended that I bag him so much, but she has known me for about 3 years longer than I have known this mate.

BirgitBRONZE Member
had her carpal tunnel surgery already thanks v much
4,145 posts
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (UK)


Posted:
if I may quote...

"Better to lose a friend than to miss a punchline."

(ummm. not really, but good friends usually either understand it, or tell you off and you can explain. No good friend will just stop talking to you smile)

"vices are like genitals - most are ugly to behold, and yet we find that our own are dear to us."
(G.W. Dahlquist)

Owner of Dragosani's left half


MedusaSILVER Member
veteran
1,433 posts
Location: 8 days at Cloudbreak, 6 in Perth, Australia


Posted:
I tease a lot but I always make sure that the friends I am doing it with (as it usually is a two way teasing with myself and my friends) know that I am joking.

I have had a couple of teasing conversations in my life where it got kinda too personal and started getting harder to take what the person speaking was saying as a joke.

I know I also have been know to get a bit carried away in these types of jovial conversations....

But there are certain friends that I know I could never carry this type of conversatino with, you have to know which ones will only take offense to this kind of playing around and which ones won't.

I don't see a problem with it at all....as for people butting in....there isn't much you can do about it...soemtimes people do it as a form of trying to get into the fun though...

linden rathenGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
my thinking is roughly the same

with new people i try and make a point of joking around that im mean when i first meet then so they know im just taking the mickey (very little of what i say is serious)

it just seems lately ive been overstepping boundries i didnt know were there - more often than not with people who werent being teased telling me to stop teasing someone - the person im teasing teases me back and i hope it doesnt look serious

hmmm i dunno

i think im just grouchy today and having a rant has helped remove some of that - i suppose 6 hours sleep accounts for that

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Fine_Rabid_DogInternet Hate Machine
10,530 posts
Location: They seek him here, they seek him there...


Posted:
"it just seems lately ive been overstepping boundries i didnt know were there - more often than not with people who werent being teased telling me to stop teasing someone - the person im teasing teases me back and i hope it doesnt look serious "


oooooh.... this sounds rather familiar. biggrin

The existance of flamethrowers says that someone, somewhere, at sometime said "I need to set that thing on fire, but it's too far away."


_Aimée_SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom


Posted:
Sorry Sam, but like I said to you, after Clapham "So whats going on?",Mums wedding "So, He your boyfriend?" and then several comments in intro's, starts to grind a little.

And because of the situation me and him are currently in, comments like that tend to make me feel..well a little 'whore' ish shrug



But that aside, you've to me about this before and I never have quite understood it.

I wouldn't call insulting people a way to 'bond'. I bond by chatting and touch, although I guess 'You complete idiot!' *smack* could be interprated as chatting and touch ubblol
EDITED_BY: Aimée (1147875877)

newgabeSILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia


Posted:
I don't like it. I think most of the time teasing is a cheap and nasty form of humour that takes unnecessary risks with other peoples feelings. I've seen so many people be hurt and then insulted sorry...*teased*... cos they object to being insulted! I got a *teasing* card from my husband once and that was pretty much it for the marriage.



Someone is rude to me now they're out of my life quicksmart.

If they call it humour I just think they're not very funny and go hang with people who are. Like the people I live with. We had an hilarious pun session last night, much funnier than 'personal' jokes. There is one mate I have an occasional 'teasy' thing with but it is like an absurd satire on how self-deprecating she is, and always done to absurdity with lots of laughs.



Interesting that comment someone made about people'going quiet'. I am very outgoing and verbally very fast. But if someone is rude or *teasing* I just would rather not be in the same conversation.



I have appreciated the 'bloke' bonding thing though when a boyfriend I had (who could be really rough verbally) was with a mate of his. Two big blokes being mean as hell to each other and it really was funny. I realised how much it cramped his style that he had to watch what he said to me cos I objected instead of being amused. Now he's an ex but we still get on. He is really nice to me these days but I rip into him sometimes cos he seems to like it. Weird. Beat me baby.

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....


GnorBRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia


Posted:
Sometimes I tease and despise myself for it afterwards when I think about it, but other times its part of being friends with certain people.
Often the teasing is a simple catch word to remind the person of a funny thing and when its returned I feel warm and part of an old friendship.

Viscious teasing I cant handle. Even when both parties seem to be enjoying it it makes me feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I will voice it in those terms "that makes me uncomfortable" and I do the same when people bickering gets nasty.

Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

Im in a lonely battle with the world with a fish to match the chip on my shoulder. Gnu in Binnu in a cnu


newgabeSILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia


Posted:
Funny you say that Gnor cos actually we tease each other a bit sometimes on MSN eh. When we're not paranoidly cleaning the oven to fill our sad and lonely lives... wink hug

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....


oliSILVER Member
not with cactus
2,052 posts
Location: bristol/ southern eastern devon, United Kingdom


Posted:
i think people just like to take the piss... kinda tests the boundries of your friendship. lets you know what is and isnt acceptable which means you get to know each other better.after all if you never overstep the boundrys you never gonna find out what they are. ive been upset by friends calling me names... not so much any more.. but a while ago, and you generally get over it, and remain friends in the end when you sit down and realise it was nothing serious.

Me train running low on soul coal
They push+pull tactics are driving me loco
They shouldn't do that no no no


newgabeSILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia


Posted:
Yeah I can hear what you'r saying Oli.. and I think there are some genuine personality differences about that. Lots of people like taking the piss. I can for sure, I'm fast and often funny. I just try not too...unless I know I am really really on safe ground with someone already. And once I am offended by someone I rarely am their friend again.

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....


jo_rhymesSILVER Member
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom


Posted:
I am always mean to Sym, as you know I'm always posting in his thread and taking the piss out of him. I really hope he doesn't mind or take it to heart. I love my Sym to bits, I think he's top of the top trumps and he makes me feel like a million mars bars ubblove But I mean, if he happens to look like Jesus, I'm going to be nasty aren't I!? tongue
Seriously, I think teasing is ok, but you've got to be tactful when you do it. For example, if i was with Sym and I saw that he was in a rubbish mood, I'm much more likely to give him a big hug and a kiss and ask if he's ok, rather than say "what's up, mr baldy chin?" wink

Hoppers are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.


linden rathenGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
hmmm i try to only tease people when they're in a good mood

my main gripe when people let it get to them - i have a friend at uni who i quite mercilessly tease and she teases me back - until one day when she practically broke down and i had to go into comfort mode

i tease a lot of people and i always do it light heartedly - it just irritates me when they go along with it suddenly attack me for it

i dunno i suppose it just comes down to honesty - id much rather people come out and tell me to shut up or talk about something else hmmmmmm

maybe i should have added a poll......

personnally i think teasing is fun but then again i am a git

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Neon_ShaolinGOLD Member
hehe, 'Member' huhuh
6,120 posts
Location: Behind you. With Jam


Posted:
The thing is Sam if they're feeling vulnerable enough to be a bit too sensitive to some friendly teasing then they're quite likely to feel that they would been seen as a killjoy or at worst lose your friendship were they to say anything. But having done so and by letting you continue it does get a much much and they would snap...

Instead of feeling irritated just remember there is a time and a place. And people take this sort of thing differently. Maybe there was something bugging your friend and your otherwise harmless exchange was just mistimed...

"I used to want to change the world, now I just wanna leave the room with a little dignity..." - Lotus Weinstock


linden rathenGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
this is true

i think im just feeling generally irritated today

it just annoys me when people arent honest with me - makes life so much easier

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jo_rhymesSILVER Member
Momma Bear
4,525 posts
Location: Telford, Shrops, United Kingdom


Posted:
i guess. Sometimes the truth hurts though.

Hoppers are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.


BethMiss Whippy
1,262 posts
Location: Cornwall & Oxford


Posted:
I tease my friends loads but i never say things that are really offensive for instance, a good friend of mine is overweight and we can trade insults for hours, always in jest, but i would never make a joke out of her weight because i know shes sensitive about it.

My now very ex boyfriend, took the trading insults to the extreme. I can take a lot of verbal abuse because i can dish it out but he used to say things that were totally out of order and really cruel and hurtful. I told him that certain things really offended me and could he please not use them to insult me, like i *hate* when people call me stupid. This guy would just ignore that and wouldnt even recognise when he did offend someone. In fact, he even had the nerve to say that it was my own fault i got offended because i was too sensitive. Thats when the relationship ended smile It wasnt what he said so much as the fact that he didnt realise or care when he offended someone, especially me, which is strange as i was his girlfriend umm

The point im trying to make is that trading insults, teasing and generally being a git is fine, especially when the other person/people can give as good as they get but be sensitive to their feelings. Know the boundaries of what you can and cant joke about and always apologise if you have hurt someones feelings, whether you intended to or not. You dont want to lose friends over an insult made in jest so be careful.

Aim high and you'll know your limits, aim low and you'll never know how high you could have climbed.


linden rathenGOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK


Posted:
beth the fun part is finding the boundaries.. especially when they can change from day to day



note



just a general point this is ***not*** an attack/rant/vent aimed at or towards anyone on hop just in case people had got that impression
EDITED_BY: linden rathen (1147901694)

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TinyPixieSILVER Member
enthusiast
394 posts
Location: in the clouds..., United Kingdom


Posted:
Hey sweetie! here, have a hug hug I hope you feel
better today. On the subject of teasing, I guess I agree with most people here that teasing is fine as long as it's not directed at only 1 person all the time, and as long as it's not about anything that person feels particularly self-conscious about, or has asked not to be teased about.

For example... my ex used to tease people, particularly me, a little too often and once he decided to tease me mercilessly about something i had told him i was embarrassed about that morning. However, he thought it would be "hilarious" to take the piss out of me about that same thing in front of his mates (not the best idea). By this time our relationship was already on the rocks, and I took the teasing so badly i threw half a glass of milk at him. The funniest thing was watching him blink incredulously and say: "really, sometimes i wonder whether you're sane" umm!!

But anyway, as Dave said, ur friend was probably just having a rough day for other reasons which just made them more sensitive, I know i have those days, poor Tommy ends up taking the brunt frown It's always the people you love the most that we snap at or get upset with so don't worry about it love hug kiss

And yes, it IS so much easier when people just let you know if you've insulted/hurt them, but never mind.

See you soon babe hug

wonderloeyenthusiast
255 posts
Location: Melbourne - home of pirates


Posted:
Hmm.. considering that with my friends, "teasing" is not only verbal but physical as well - yup, we beat each other up on a regular basis. Of course we piss each other off on a regular basis, but we have sufficient trust and respect for each other to back off when it occurs.

I'd never beat up or insult someone I've just met. In fact, when my flatmate and my brand new gf started beating each other up, I realised she was a keeper.

Honesty is good. So is reading signals.. If someone doesn't look like they are enjoying it... STOP IT YOU GOOSE...

"You've gone from Loey the Wonder Lesbian to everyone wondering if you are a lesbian." - Shadowman

Yesterday is yesterday. If we try to recapture it, we will only lose tomorrow.


NYCNYC
9,232 posts
Location: NYC, NY, USA


Posted:
I've found it really important to see what amount of the relationship is based on teasing.

If there are relationships in which the only communication is teasing then I think the relationship is shallow. Which PERHAPS is why it's a 'guy thing'.

I find that it's important for me, in my very close relationships, NOT to tease all that much. It just has an underlying negativity to it.

Of course, with such an international crowd it's easy to misunderstand the boundaries unless you know someone very well. And even then, it's possible to misjudge a mood or openness to teasing at a given time.

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]


newgabeSILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia


Posted:
 Written by: linden rathen



beth the fun part is finding the boundaries.. especially when they can change from day to day







Really? the fun part might be for YOU in finding the boundaries. For the other person to have you 'find' ie transgress the boundaries of how much of they can take of (what you yourself call) *very vicious insults* delivered *unmercifully* more likely feels invasive, hurtful and demeaning.



 Written by: linden rathen



my main gripe when people let it get to them - i have a friend at uni who i quite mercilessly tease and she teases me back - until one day when she practically broke down and i had to go into comfort mode







I am amazed that you seemed resentful that you had to go into 'comfort' mode one time with your friend, when you seem to expect her to go into 'punching bag' mode regularly for your amusement. Let's be clear here. Just because people (particularly girl people) respond to teasing with some attempt to play back doesn't mean they enjoy it or in any way benefit from it.



Perhaps she's just trying to relate to you at your level. Or avoid being insulted for "not having a sense of humour". Or not be made to look helpless and stupid in public. Or not tell you off and risk embarrassing you. Many reasons why she may 'tease back' if that's how you are known to go on.



But how wearying and annoying to have someone carry on like that at you all the time. Constant teasing just defines the relationship at a very, as NYC says, shallow level.



But fundamentally, even if she does enjoy it...if you resent caring for her when you've insulted her into having to 'practically break down', stop pretending you are her friend. In my opinion you owe this girl an apology and some indication you will try for a better quality relationship iun future. Humour is great. Try being funny without making it personal.



Honest enough for you?

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....


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