I'll not deny that I am a graduate of the school of sarcasm and that occasional cutting remarks find their way from my brain to my mouth . Yet I like to think the heart also plays a role. While no one can be perfect, I think more often than not my kidding manages to remain within certain boundaries because I know my audience. That audience is made up of friends ,most of whom have known me for a very long time and know that I would not intentionally wound them with a verbal shot. Indeed, many of the intended targets wind up laughing themselves and realizing that it is all in good fun,no harm intended. I make it a point to tease only those people whom I like a great deal. I would never tease,kid or insult someone I did not know and did not like.
There's nothing quite so uncomfortable as being witness to someone who has gone too far and has misjudged the audience and has to point out that he/she was kidding or even apologize. So I quickly jotted down some rules for kidding (also called teasing) to keep things good natured.
1)Tease only people with a sense of humor
2)Tease only people who know you like them a great deal
3)Never tease someone in front of a child,stranger or business associate
4)Never tease anyone about something that is out of their control
5)Don't include relatives in any kind of kidding under any circumstances. A person may regularly insult their brother,sister or parent but that's off limits to you because it's THEIR brother,sister or parent.
6)If you are going to dish it out,you must also take it. Laugh at yourself and accept good natured kidding from friends as a sarcastic valentine.The ability to laugh at oneself is a gift.
7)If you get punched in the head,you may not have judged your audience correctly.
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