Why Do We Tease?

[wolfofthewoods]

I've been thinking a lot about this lately. I've been told that it's "human nature" to make fun of people.. But, really, why? Because, honestly, if you stop to think about how people would feel, how you would feel, if they were shunned or bullied or even just had some mean-ish fun poked at them, it's not funny at all. It's not something that I think is at all okay, and I really can't stand it when anyone thinks it is.

Highschool is hell for so many people because of bullying. I wish I knew why it happened. What are your views?

Note: My school, and all the schools around us that I know of, are not bad at -all- when it comes to bullying. Maybe it's because it's not very diverse (at all)? Maybe our community is more morally aware or something? I really don't know, but I do know I've been so shattered by the documentaries I've seen on bullying. It's horrible.

[Jessica Coconut]

Hmm. I tease my brother a lot *blush*, but I never really mean it. I apologise always. I suppose it's because it's actually in my nature. The nature of my teasing is always usually around criticism, or complaining. That is my nature. If I can complain about it, debate it, argue it, criticise it, I will. A lot of the time, it doesn't come off quite like that, and it becomes something of an insult. I don't intend it that way, but people have to learn that sometimes, it's my way of protesting. It's actually in my nature.

On the other hand, I do seriously think teasing is dumb. I hate being bullied. Rather, neglected. And excluded. I'm not insulted often. But when I am, I'm angered. People either have to be very good friends of mine, or they pay. And even then, it takes a good heartfelt apology to get off the hook.

I'm by no means able to fight off people physically. I wouldn't be able to beat up someone unless they're a few years younger than me. Which would be really mean on my part. I seek to get even in my own ways. Nag at every little fault till they're a heaping mess. Takes a while though.

I get really mad if people mention my vertically challenged-ness.

I'm firey when I'm angry. My friends say I can decimate people in ten seconds or less. But, that only often happens to people a grade younger than me. I'm an ant to people in my grade.

Back to teasing...

I think people get a bit carried away with it, and forget that there is a fragile person inside that is listening. People can come off strong, but might be truly hurt inside. Sometimes we pick on people we know (or believe) can handle it. But there are others that we wouldn't dare to upset, because they'll take it to heart.

I just wish I wasn't so neglected, forgotten, ignored, belittled (literally), excluded. That's a form of bullying too.

[Shadyy]

I think it can be a form of communication too. Take my dad for examples, he's been teasing me since I can remember, of course I retaliate with the same...it seems to be the only way for him to establish a relationship with me.--->people who can't express their feelings.

Others do it because they feel insecure themselves, or becasue they're jealous of the person they're teasing. In this case they have a lot of issues to work out, would be my guess. I guess to forget their own problems they pick on others, which gives them a kind of power...it's sad, mean and awfull. When I see kids or teenagers picking on someone I feel like sklapping them around the head, really i do, a few weeks ago I had that strong urge as I was waiting for the bus. I've been slightly teased too in school; like: "Why are you so small." or small phrases like that, back then I didn't know what to say. Now I'd retort or kick them in the shins

But among family and friends if it's rather playfull then painfull I think it's ok. It's when it starts hurting people that it gets evil(duh shadyy!)

well, that's what I think ;D

[Torey]

Most cases of teasing is caused by jealousy. Say a girl has got a new bracelet or has a lot of friends, another girl may tease her because she's jealous of her bracelet or friends. Sorry I can't write more, but I'm in a bit of a hurry.

[Oily]

I only tease friends, usually, or people who will take it the right way. It's a integral part of my humour - we tease about the latest guys, the lack of innocence we have, the intelligence we have when we make dumb comments. I never hit close to home - we exaggerate, we call each other names, we fake horror, we laugh a lot. I know that teasing is only ever friendly, and I would never intentionally make someone upset over it.

Self deprecating humour is also part of it - teasing yourself too

[Deleted]

I've got 3 theroys.

The first theroy is that they tease those that are different. I've always been different from everyone else, I just can't see what it is.

The second theroy is because they are jealous.

The third theroy is to make the bully feel better abut themselves. If many of you notice, bullys have low self esteem.

[Orginalcliche]

I have a problem with teasing. When I ws younger I was teased, a lot. Now I have trouble expressing my feelings for fear of having my feelings hurt so I tease the person if I really like them, mostly to convince myself that I don't like them, so that I won't have my feelings hurt. I was bullied, beat up, made fun of, generally messed up when I was in elementry school, so I think it could also be something like that, but then again that is maybe just me.

[TK]

I think that passing it off as envy is probably the most self-aggrandizing take on the issue. I don't think that it's some sort of trait or possession that gets these people going - sure, that may amount for a few of the cases, but I really don't believe that it's the majority of it, or even a healthy sum of the minority.

It depends on the kind of teasing, I suppose. There's the teasing that goes on between my friends and myself that's essentially harmless - because we know it's a joke. For instance, Lockhart, a friend of mine, calls me fat. That's especially funny considering I'm 5"10 and 120 lbs. I normally just say something back to him about what he does with dogs

Then, of course, there's when it's not a joke. It's intended to hurt. At the high school where my dad teaches, a boy committed suicide last week. He killed himself because people were constantly making fun of him, and he didn't take it as a joke, and they didn't mean it as a joke. I think that it's just generic cruelty - it makes them laugh. It makes others laugh. They like making themselves laugh. Them like making others laugh. So they tease.

And then there are the repercussions.

[Rishiy]

I think everyone bullies someone else at one point or another. Be it hardcore, or mild, and hard to pick up. I know I have. And I think a lot of people empasise the fact that some bullies are a lot worse than maybe they are themselves. I think that if we concentrated more on what we're doing ourselves, as well as other people, things would be sorted a lot faster. I notice it when I tinkle people off... And I notice why, and I know I can change. But i don't so maybe its not that easy anyway.

[cannonsmbt]

well why is it so FUN to make fun of people? will it make the other person feel smaller! it is so rong to be nasty to anyone!

[RJ]

Teasing to me seems to have two purposes only;

1. By putting others down it makes you feel better. A totally selfish reason.

2. Being affectionate, since you have trouble with showing how you really feel towards the person. Stupid, but it happens.