To Tease Or Not To Tease?
We are told that teasing is wrong, but in reality everyone teases someone. Whether it’s a little adlib joke or a sophisticated practical joke everyone teases. Much of humor today is based on some form of tease. Making fun of someone or joking about somebody is a form of teasing. It is part of human nature. In school, boys will tease girls and girls will tease boys many times it is because one likes the other. Even though it is hurtful this is their way of trying to communicate to the one they like. When someone gets thrown out in a baseball game or fumbles the ball in a football game their teammates will tease the player. Have you ever reminded a friend of something embarrassing that they did? That is a form of teasing. I don’t know anyone who can honestly say they haven’t teased someone. It may be politically incorrect to say teasing is alright, but in reality we all do it.
If everyone teases rather than condemn “teasing” maybe we should put down rules to teasing.
- Don’t get too personal. Teasing someone about a physical challenge or an emotional situation, should probably be off limits.
- Don’t embarrass someone in front of a superior. This can undermine someone’s credibility and hurt their career chances.
- Refrain from personal embarrassing attacks in front of someone that person is trying to impress. Just because you might think its funny this could have an adverse affect on a relationship.
- Know when to stop. If you see the person you are targeting with your humor is getting upset stop. Why risk losing a friend over a joke. The joke might have been funny the first time, but after five or six times it gets old and can be hurtful.
- Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you were targeted with a personal attack in the name of humor? We all know how hurtful a joke can be.
Poking fun at your friends is part of our human nature. In many cases its part of the bonding experience, a mild form of hazing. When that targeted person can laugh at himself they become part of the group.
I am not condemning “teasing” I am just reminding you to remember to not take “teasing” too far.