Let's Talk: Ribbing

The younger generation will know this topic as "roasting." Poking fun at, making light of situations, giving a hard time, busting balls, they're all the same thing. For as long as men have gotten together and created bonds, they are always there to keep each other in check. There is a certain level that you can take these jokes too, where they still remain jokes. As friends, as brothers, as men, we never want to cross the threshold from jokes into mean. Sometimes it might slip and there will be consequences, or we'll be lucky enough that our friends understand we are dumb and we get to move past it.

Here's a simple guide, to busting your friends balls.

- You never make the jokes to personal. This is detailed towards those of you that have had long lasting relationships, so if you are trying to make fun of someone you had just met, you might be a dick. If you know your friends are self conscious about their weight, maybe they have family issues, maybe it's something super obscure, like they don't enjoy how their left pinky toe looks. To me personally left pinky toe issues could be kind of silly. To a portion of you, you could feel the exact same. However as silly as your or I may find it, if you absolutely know someone that you care about would be hurt by something you could say, don't say it. You don't bring it up without asking first.

- Ask what's allowed. Your friends are always giving you a hard time, nothing that really hurts but you feel the need to say something back. Well maybe they had a shitty relationship back when they were a teenager that only you knew about. Or maybe they called the teacher "mom" one to many times. We all make mistakes, it's what makes human, and when we are reminded of those mistakes it keeps us level. So just ask, in solid friendships, your friends will tell you what they are and aren't comfortable with.

-Attack something they are confident about. If you know your friends are good looking, or have a great sense of style, maybe they are a great chef or singer. Poke fun at it. They will know it's in jest, especially if you remind them of how talented they are outside of giving them a hard time. It will probably be the jokes they take the least offense to, but again, it will keep them level.

- Pick something dumb and run with it. Something that you know might not really hurt, but it's just a casual jab. This is based on you having prior information of what they could be self conscious about, and if you do strike a nerve, end the joke there. The skill of picking something dumb is using it just enough to where it could become a dumb joke between friends, but never taking it to far and driving it in to the point where it could hurt.

When it comes to ribbing, on't be the guy that needs to be told to WashYourAss

- Noble