You know that friend who is the first to poke fun at anything and everything? The friend that has the sense of humor that is always uncensored, and tells nothing-is-off-limits style of jokes? Their quick-witted humor always makes you laugh and somehow you both feed off of each other’s sarcasm almost effortlessly. It is a sarcastic person’s dream to be able to have someone who can roll with your punches as you dodge theirs. When you have a friend like this it is only natural to continue on that same sarcastic path each and every time you get together.
But then one day, something changes; out of no where this friend of yours who just commented on how she thinks she looks fat in her new dress is offended when you tell her, “Yes, I agree that dress makes you look fat.” Wait! Back up ... what just happened? You know as well as I do that I am only kidding! You just told me that I needed to go on a jog.
I think we just hit a spot when the person who dishes it out cannot take it. It is unfair, really, to act one way as you always had before and the next minute just suddenly be different. How hard is it then for the friend who is only acting like she had in all previous encounters with her friend before to realize suddenly that she had crossed the line one day. It is quite the contradiction as now things are suddenly taken out of context.
When sensitivity takes place from a sarcastic jokester it usually is a tough one to gauge. I do believe that if you are going to be a part of this good fun that your sensitivity should be left at the front door, however, I think a few rules may be necessary here. Almost like “girl code” but instead “joke code.”
Here they are below:
1. Just because I said I hate ____ (fill in the blank with a physical characteristic of yourself), doesn’t mean you can comment on it—unless I ask for your thoughts.
2. Leave the kids and pets out of it—even if the jokester brings it up.
3. Husbands/boyfriends are fair game because they are always making our jokes so much better.
I think following these three “joke codes” will lead to everyone having a great laugh each and every time—with no room for sensitivity to slowly swallow the air out of the room. So next time you are with your sarcastic friend just think that she does have a sensitive side to her so go gently, but remember it is always in good fun and jokes are just that so they should never be taken so seriously!
