Community Chat

[momtochloe]

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@september wrote:

If a parent joked with a child and said "guess what.  I got hungry and ate your candy", but  then quickly followed with...."just kidding!"....that's good natured teasing.  But to let it go on and record the child's reaction...that's just mean. 

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Great post @september, this is exactly how I feel.  A little joking is fine but when it is clear you have upset someone (especially a child) the joke should stop right there and then.  I find it mindboggling that parents take it to this extent and then film/post the reactions . . .

I like Jimmy Kimmel but this is one bit I wish he would drop and fast.  Blech.

[momtochloe]

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@x Hedge wrote:
When my word-clever father teased me I laughed and enjoyed it, and loved him all the more for it.
When my oldest brother teased me I cried, and said "good riddance" when I was six and he moved out.
Laughter with one, tears with the other.
I was a child, and each one got the reaction they were trying for.

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@x Hedge you and I must have lived parallel childhoods as I can more than relate . . . sigh.

[CAMOGIRL]

Once in awhile, I think a little teasing between relatives or friends is OK. It is not meant to berate or offend them - just kidding around and all in good fun.

Teasing anyone else is just mean. 

[JeanLouiseFinch]

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@CLHS68 wrote:

you people would never have survived in my family. We were able to take the teasing and give it back. No wonder kids no days are such wimps. Some one must protect them from every little thing. We were bullied in school and elsewhere but handled it ourselves. Now they cry & get to stay home and are homeschooled. I hate to think what will happen when these kids get out in the real world. They will have no idea how to get along with others.

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@CLHS68 I take issue with your comments for the following reasons:

1.  These are PARENTS intimidating and hurting their little CHILDREN.  Some of them aren't even old enough to be in school yet.  It's not a sibbling or peer situation.  If it were, that would change things because children of the same age usually have the same abilities and coping skills.  Children, and little ones like those in the video, are powerless against their parents, don't have the ability to think fast and "one up" them.  All they have is the pent up frustration and the only outlet is their tears and anger.  
2.  Homeschoolling doesn't automatically mean someone is unable to cope "in the real world".  My son's fiance was homeschooled.  She is very responsible, maintains a job where she is well liked and respected by her co-workers and superiors and attends nursing school, working toward becoming a nurse practitioner, at an excellent university and has been awarded for her hard work.

[PamfromCT]

I wanted to add some thoughts to my previous posts.

Children deserve a home with parents who love and support them.  

It should be a safe place.  It's where they learn sound values and how to treat others.  Yes, knocks will come.  That is when parents can help them learn coping skills that will help them for the rest of their lives.  Even when children need discipline, it should be fair and absent of mean behavior of parents.

Even as my children are long grown, some of proudest moments I recall are times when I was told they defended another child being very hurt by mean bullies.  Sure, most families engage in innocent teasing, but it should never be mean and hurtful.

It is in the home that children learn how to treat other people.  Yes, mine were not perfect.  But values are taught that hopefully will follow them the rest of their lives.  Schools can reinforce values, but parents are the most important teachers.

[SXMGirl]

A little teasing might be fine, but too many times the person inflicting the teasing goes way too far.  Friendships have been lost because of excessive teasing and people can feel abused.  Too often, the person being teased just endures it and does not feel comfortable telling the teaser to stop, because the answer is always that they are just teasing and can't you take a joke.

Nothing is every wrong with kindness.

[DiAnne]

I had all male cousins and they teased me constantly and played tricks on me.  It may not have been fun at the time but I soon learned if I did not react they would stop.  It was a good lesson for real life.  

[ROMARY]

'More or less', as long as it isn't serious teasing. Some folks tease with a serious smirk on their faces.  Just ignoring (with a smile) those types usually works.  Usually the one who's left standing (tall) with a big grin wins, in the long run. 

[iceRedfire]

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@momtochloe wrote:

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@september wrote:

If a parent joked with a child and said "guess what.  I got hungry and ate your candy", but  then quickly followed with...."just kidding!"....that's good natured teasing.  But to let it go on and record the child's reaction...that's just mean. 

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Great post @september, this is exactly how I feel.  A little joking is fine but when it is clear you have upset someone (especially a child) the joke should stop right there and then.  I find it mindboggling that parents take it to this extent and then film/post the reactions . . .

I like Jimmy Kimmel but this is one bit I wish he would drop and fast.  Blech.

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I agree with you @momtochloe and @september.

[LilacTree]

As far as I'm concerned, teasing is like tickling.  It has to be done just right or it comes off as abuse.

I've never done either, as I'm not good at it. 

I saw that piece on JF and didn't find it funny.