Sunday, December 7, 2008

41 - Saying something hurtful then laughing it off

Have you ever had someone say something that was somewhat of a poor joke yet also may be hurtful truth and then they laugh it off just because they're worried you might take offence? Something like, "that's because Michael's really insensitive, right, Michael? Hahaha..." or "you probably shouldn't eat that if you want to lose some of that weight. Hahaha, I'm just kidding..."

It's not the actual insult you take issue with. It's that horrid laugh afterward that the other person thinks he/she can use as some sort of veil that will cover the fact that they mean what they say. I'm all for laughing at our own mistakes, self-deprecating humor is fun, but to force someone to laugh with you about something that might be a real big problem is, well, a real big problem. Some people I know do it so often, so, so, so often that you wouldn't believe how often they do it. It's a sleazy attempt at being cute and endearing - a fake display of kind, friendly, 'positive' energy and character.

Every time I hear this particular abuse of laughter I want to just land one in their face and go HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

i'm okay with it.. only if it came from particular persons who i can also slight back in return. give and take. it works well with me. i hate it when someone teases others, but then when it's payback time he gets pissed off.

Douglas said...

You could, after one of those people say something like that, say to them, "You really act like an idiot sometimes... hahahaha just kidding, you know."

yolanda said...

i think there's always an ulterior motive behind a joke!

Michael said...

Ares: That is an annoying one. Sort of fits in with the sore losers and hypocrites categories.

Douglas: Oh, I've seen that happen too. It's quite annoying as well.

Yolanda: I agree. Jokes are never just funny(!!!).

Frankie and Bella said...

I love this blog! Yes this has happened to me. I'm quite an organised person and I like things to be planned and just so. I'm a bit of a domestic goddess too. Love to cook and keep things clean :) Maybe it's not for everyone but it works for me. My sister often comments or throws in these 'jokes' at really inopportune times about how anal and obsessive I am. She then laughs about it and tells me it's ok to be the next Martha Stewart..hahaha. Yeah funny.

ash said...

I've learned that when people behave that way it is usually due to their own insecurities.

Next time just bitch slap them really hard across the face. It works for me (when I'm the slapper, not the "slapee").

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Madame DeFarge said...

I do know what you mean. I rarely laugh at anything I say, mostly because I don't want to encourage competition. I mean, if I say something funny, then someone might try to say something even funnier. And then where we would be?

But seriously, I rarely make fun of people I don't know and even then, I try hard to avoid being insensitive. People I don't like, or that make fun of my friends, well, they're fair game.

Anonymous said...

i had the same issue last week. i HATE it when someone does something like that. as if the so called laughing can make the insult any lighter...

what a hypocrite.

J.J. in L.A. said...

When did my sister move to Hong Kong? ; )

Luckily, I can give as good as I get so she never gets a rise out of me. I usually just end up embarrassing her. lol!