The Backwards World-Teasing With Insults

Never trust a person that teases with insults. For so often it turns into their belief. Only be positive in all that you say. For you'll eventually believe what you said, whether or not you really meant it.

You know, if the do it just every once in a while, than it's not really that big of a deal. When it starts to become a regular thing though, that's when you should worry. It means that they are not afraid, and don't have any qualms about, just popping off with something that can be kindof mean or degrading. In that case then, you start to wonder what kinds of things they are saying about you behind your back too.



Don't put doubts in people's minds. Don't put hurtful in thoughts there that could bounce around for quite a while. Nobody likes to hear those things, even if you're "just teasing" or "just kidding". After a while the start to wonder if there really is some truth to it, otherwise, why would you keep saying it? Why would you keep bringing it up?

Fill people's lives with only positive. You can be firm in your corrections, but don't be insulting. That won't inspire anyone to change. It will just hurt them. Don't be responsible for hurting so many people. Don't be responsible for making them cry. It can get out of hand really, really fast, so don't even start down that path. It's just miserable for both sides, and a lot of friendships can be slowly, or quickly, ruined from that. 


It is especially important as a friend, and just as important, or more, as a parent, teacher, or coach. When someone looks up to you, don't rip them down, even in light-hearted teasing. It can cause them a lot of pain, feelings of self-worthlessness, and it can cause them to start doing the same since they looked up to you. It can be harder to look up to someone after that, and they will probably remember at least occasionally for the rest of their lives.


Don't be so blind to the damage you can do. Sometimes it doesn't come all at once either. Sometimes you might do it once, and you might not realize the potential it has for hurt. But people laughed, or acted like it wasn't a big deal or something, so then you end up doing it more and more. Just know, that eventually it really will wear the person down, and it will get to them eventually. The words don't just fly away. They bounce around inside of them for a while.

Everyone starts out with some self-worth, and self-esteem issues. Many people are very, very strong. But if you do it over and over, it can wear some of the very strongest down. Some of your most loyal students, and some of your closest friends. 

And listen to them. If they tell you that they don't like what you're saying or what you're calling them, don't just brush it off. Don't just tell them to suck it up, or that it's not a big deal, or that you were "just kidding". Nobody should ever say that to anybody that's hurting. 

Just be positive in everything that you say. Don't tease meanly. It can get out of hand so very quickly, and it can cause so much damage. Maybe you don't see it now, but eventually you will. 



Tara J. Howard


Copyright 2014