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I Only Tease Friends
With them I can be brutal sometimes
I grew up in New York City. I had a brother. I also have close male friends since I majored in engineering and am on the autistic spectrum. So I often relate better to men.
Both men and New Yorkers tease their friends.
I’ve discovered, so do Germans and some other cultures.
With strangers there is formality and careful politeness. With friends, ribbing ensues. The closer the friendship, the more the ribbing.
In my experience, male friends often rib each other. So do New Yorkers. Sarcasm and even insults are part of the lingo of close friends.
That is the key feature, however.
The friendships have to be close.
Another factor — even women like myself, who can enjoy the backhanded compliments, cutting remarks and so on, don’t appreciate much of that in a romantic relationship. My ex husband did it too much despite my asking him not to. There are reasons he’s an ex and that is part of it.
However, I enjoy the banter with my male friends and a few of my female ones.
It’s a great way to bond in groups and it creates inside jokes and a sense of intimacy without exposing too much. A lot of times, when you feel comfortable teasing…
