As people become more tense about life in general, I wonder whether fewer and fewer people can cope with being teased ( another way of saying this is 'ribbing').
I hope not - personally I thoroughly enjoy it. It means that someone else is taking a risk to give you a backhanded compliment. People tease because they like you, rarely is it malicious. Whoever does it can get really hurt because if they get it wrong and instead of a smile and a bit of teasing back they get a flood of abuse.
The teaser quickly withdraws into their shell and takes cover for a while - hopefully to re-emerge when the sun comes out - and perhaps - - - try again.
It can take a very long time before two people trust each other to try a bit of teasing. If it comes off, the relationship blossoms. If not that could be the end of a relationship - but then was it really a worthwhile relationship in the first place. There are some people I would never tease - but then they're not very important people in my life - if teasing is out of bounds then I'm wary of devoting much effort to the relationship.
I'd rather have a few real friends than a load of acquaintances.
3 comments:
Ooooh no. Don't tease anybody in the UK, you will likely be accused of sexism, racism, being offensive, being over familiar etc. Take that rather ordinary bloke last week who teased the security staff at Heathrow, asking what would happen if he went through security wearing a scarf over his face like Muslim women do. Some pr*ck of a security guard detained him for being racist/offensive and demanded an apology. To his eternal credit the man refused to apologise as he had done nothing wrong, and he stood his ground.
(Rant coming on) I am bloody sick to the back teeth of pandering to every foreigner who cares to come here whilst being squeezed out as a mere native Briton.
Take foxhunting, BAN IT coz its cruel to old Reynard. Doesn't matter its a tradition and actually does some good. Whats that you say Mr Halal Butcher? O yes its fine for you to slaughter sheep in your particularly cruel manner, after all its your tradition isn't it.
We ought to adopt Australia's stance - when you come to live here You adapt to us, we don't adapt to You.
Or a story I read just the other day about the British Raj, we punished their tradition of Suti by hanging the perps. When the Indians complained that it was their tradition the British governor told them "We have a tradition too, when Englishmen throw women onto bonfires we hang them. So you carry on your tradition, and we'll carry on with ours!"
Sorry I may have digressed from your O.P. Teasing eh? A powerful subject!!
Well said J.M.,
We've been discussing this kind of thing in our discussion group a feel much the same as you.
But aren't we our worst enemy. We critise each other for not being considerate to others when they walk all over us.
It seems we are a nation without self-belief, riddled with guilt, bending over backwards to accommodate others.
I've talked to Ghanains and there amazed at our attitude of self flagulation.
Sadly when we do speak out we go over the top as with the National front.
Brave balanced people who spoke up and told it like it is, when he predicted conflict on the horizon like Enoch Powell in his Rivers of Blood speech were ostracised by his colleagues.
It brings me back to another sad theme of mine - we're a nation of hypocrites.
Sad that debating subjects like this is unacceptable to most people - they just go and whinge behind the scenes.
Now you've got me going!
Let's try and be positive.
We in Cumbria have just had a marvelous sunny day.
Even this reminds me of our preoccupation with the weather.
I guess it depends who you associate with. And, importantly which newspaper you read.
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