Making fun of others

[Goodbook]

Is it right to make fun of others or even ourselves?
God is not mocked, so why should we mock others or ourselves?

Are there ways of being humorous without being cruel and sarcastic? Or is it a subtle form of bullying? Aren't we to be sober and vigilant and not engaging in foolish talk or jests?

 

[blackribbon]

I think there is a place for humor and sarcasm, as long as it is not intended to hurt someone. I find it relieves stressful situations when used right. To be sober all day long would be exhausting and potentially depressing. Life brings enough sober moments as it is. I know sarcasm is hard to understand for people who don't hear it...but I find that it can be a very useful tool when trying to reach patients who are non-compliant to understand how absurd some of their arguments really sound. For example, when they say they don't want to be "dependent on a medication" on a daily basis...I say I agree and hate my dependence on fluoride toothpaste for the same reason, "in fact, I find myself needing to brush my darn teeth multiple times in the same day, and that is a pain in the butt"...they usually laugh and realize that maybe doing something even just once daily to improve their health isn't that hard after all.

 

[BookofMatt]

It 100% depends on the context. I can't think of anyone who doesn't affectionately poke fun at their closest friends/loved ones or makes light-hearted self-deprecating comments, but there's a huge difference between that and malicious criticism or self-loathing.

 

[SnowyMacie]

It 100% depends on the context. I can't think of anyone who doesn't affectionately poke fun at their closest friends/loved ones or makes light-hearted self-deprecating comments, but there's a huge difference between that and malicious criticism or self-loathing.

Exactly. I was bullied a lot in elementary school, there's a big difference between making fun of someone and simply making fun of something they did.

 

[LoveDivine]

I think it all depends on the intentions of the person making the jokes. Some seemingly harmless jokes are laced with malevolence or jealousy. Those remarks are almost always calculated to put down a person or embarrass them. On the flip side, some people just have a very witty or sarcastic sense of humor and enjoy teasing their friends. I get teased a lot and enjoy teasing my friends ( in a lighthearted manner). I don't see that as a problem. I think it shows you are comfortable enough with that person to be able to laugh at yourself or them without causing offence.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Is it right to make fun of others or even ourselves?
God is not mocked, so why should we mock others or ourselves?

Are there ways of being humorous without being cruel and sarcastic? Or is it a subtle form of bullying? Aren't we to be sober and vigilant and not engaging in foolish talk or jests?

There are times and situations where it's acceptable, but in basically all cases the person on the receiving end understands that it's a joke. Perhaps there's a friendship or relationship between the person making the joke, and the butt of the joke and therefore it's just harmless teasing. My friends and I love sarcasm, and our exchanges can be thick with it. Some don't like sarcasm, and it's important to adjust accordingly because they would perceive a sarcastic remark as serious and hurtful.

 

[Goodbook]

I have been thinking lately that i personally am not comfortable with teasing. I didnt like it when my older sister did it to me and I dont like to see it coming from other ppl.

I think it actually does have a root in putting people down or 'in their place' .
i think When they mocked Jesus on the cross for being the King of the Jews ..he really was but they made a mockery of him..it hurt him deeply. He did not laugh at himself or others.

This is not to say Jesus had no sense of humour but he was not mocking others he just told the truth. I cant recall him making fun or teasing other ppl although he was amused when often ppl didnt get his parables and took it all literally.

 

[farout]

Is it right to make fun of others or even ourselves?
God is not mocked, so why should we mock others or ourselves?

Are there ways of being humorous without being cruel and sarcastic? Or is it a subtle form of bullying? Aren't we to be sober and vigilant and not engaging in foolish talk or jests?

WhY would anY one Makkke Fuunn of Meee??/

 

[Goodbook]

Im sorry farout I dont understand. Nobody is making fun of you.

....but this is a singles forum and marrieds arent supposed to post here.
Maybe its because marrieds make fun of singles?

 

[Aelred of Rievaulx]

Is it right to make fun of others or even ourselves?
God is not mocked, so why should we mock others or ourselves?

Are there ways of being humorous without being cruel and sarcastic? Or is it a subtle form of bullying? Aren't we to be sober and vigilant and not engaging in foolish talk or jests?

We Catholics aren't called to be sober. ;-)

 

[Gnarwhal]

I have been thinking lately that i personally am not comfortable with teasing. I didnt like it when my older sister did it to me and I dont like to see it coming from other ppl.

I think it actually does have a root in putting people down or 'in their place' .
i think When they mocked Jesus on the cross for being the King of the Jews ..he really was but they made a mockery of him..it hurt him deeply. He did not laugh at himself or others.

This is not to say Jesus had no sense of humour but he was not mocking others he just told the truth. I cant recall him making fun or teasing other ppl although he was amused when often ppl didnt get his parables and took it all literally.

Some teasing can be hurtful, specifically if it's always poking at the same issue. For example, if someone's sibling always teased them about their lazy eye, or about the fact that they always sing in the shower, that can make a person very self conscious about themselves. I'd hesitate to call that teasing and be more inclined to call it bullying.

Using your example of the sign the Romans put on the cross over Christ's head. I would say that the difference between that kind of mockery, and the sarcastic teasing that people engage in with their friends would be this: the Roman's didn't at all believe Christ was who said he was, they denied everything about his identity. When it comes to sarcastic banter between friends, it's usually over much less serious issues.

And now, taking off my PC cap for a moment, I think teasing and sarcasm can toughen a person up. In other words, it has the potential for a person to develop a thicker skin so that remarks from random strangers aren't taken so personally and thus have less of an emotional effect.

 

[Goodbook]

Why not? Its in the bible. Be ye sober and viligant for your adversary the devil is prowling about like a lion seeking someone he can devour. 1 peter 5:8
Unless you mean drunk in the spirit.
Anyway dont worry. I'm not catholic, so..your joke is lost on me.

Im sorry if I ever made fun of catholics. One time i thought they were called that cos they really liked cats...

When the devil tempted eve he actually mocked her and implied she was stupid.

 

[Aelred of Rievaulx]

Why not? Its in the bible. Be ye sober and viligant for your adversary the devil is prowling about like a lion seeking someone he can devour. 1 peter 5:8
Unless you mean drunk in the spirit.
Anyway dont worry. I'm not catholic, so..your joke is lost on me.

Im sorry if I ever made fun of catholics. One time i thought they were called that cos they really liked cats...

When the devil tempted eve he actually mocked her and implied she was stupid.

While the Bible is important to us, we also use beer and wine to help interpret it.

 

[Tom Mix]

I bebieve it depends on the person you are giving a hard time. Everybody acts different and that is part of the getting to know them process.

I can give some people a hard time and they think nothing of it but then some get hurt really easy so I do not give them a hard time.

I believe the Bible says "coarse jesting" in a few translations which to me means excessive or dirty joking.

 

[redblue22]

I sometimes smile or laugh at how wonderful someone is. It helps to explain that to them as well.

 

[Goodbook]

Oh ok.
Cant you interpret it without it? What about your children? Do catholics drink heavily? Still not getting it.

 

[Goodbook]

Well. Not sure what to say as dont drink and dont want to as never liked alcohol.

I do think its totally ok to have lolcats though. They make me smile. I dont think theres anything in the bible about not making fun of animals by posting funny pictures of them.

 

[EyesOfKohl]

IMO, It's good to have a joke with peoples traits/actions, as long as it's not in a harmful way to that person and as long as you can handle it in return as well.

 

[Goodbook]

But that just sounds like do what you want as long as it doesn't harm others..like the satanist maxim. How can you know a person will handle a joke? Or are you so hardened that you just let people make fun of you and don't care..isn't that disrespectful and degrading? And not honoring yourself or that person?

 

[Goodbook]

I remember reading something about Marilyn Monroe, who was this famous movie star in the old days that even though she was wildly popular and lampooned, in the end she broke down and asked people not to make her a joke. She didn't want her life to be a joke.
I just thought that was sad...to never be taken seriously.