[sweetpotato31]

How do you handle friends who can tease, be sarcastic, etc, but get offended when you tease back?

[Little]

Tease harder and drive them off ... okay, just kidding, but if you're feeling vengeful it's an option.
Ask yourself this: Is this a friend or a bully who happens to hang around with you? People who tease but refuse to be teased generally have self-esteem issues. So if you want this person in your life, you can have a sit-down talk (that is, if you think they won't tease you for trying.) But if you can't stand him/her, you shouldn't feel bad about cutting him/her from your life.

[sweetpotato31]

thanks... I can't decide. I wish we could stay friends, but as you said, his self-esteem issues get very tiresome. I don't know if I can help him or not. If so, I'd like to try. He is the one who actually starts all of the bantering, and it's fun until he gets offended and cuts me off. I feel like a b!tch, but I honestly didn't say anything that bad. Maybe I should apologize and try to talk about it, just still not sure HOW.

[sourpuss]

Erg! I hate that. It really bothers me when people can't stand the taste of their own medicine. Next time he starts with the bantering, shoot it down dead in it's tracks. Calmly say, I'm not going to get in to this joking/teasing game with you because you can't take what you dish out and then everyone ends up with hurt feelings. Let's talk about something else."

He'll be embarrassed, but it will either make him think twice about doing it again, or he'll lighten up.

[Guest]

Very good sourpuss my sentiments exactly!
Go for it!

[sweetpotato31]

I IM'd him and apologized. Thankfully he was willing to talk to me, asked why I'd said what I did, and i was able to explain - which then he saw that he took it completely wrong. He's a hurting person who tries to cover it up. I need to remember this, and be careful what I joke about.

[Guest]

have to ask, was the teasing over IM or TXT? I know sometimes I misread things sent by IM or TXT because there's no "tone" to the words as there is in voice conversation.

[sweetpotato31]

Yes, it was IM, and that's another good point. ...I also should have mentioned that I intend to follow sourpuss's advice from now on - next time he starts this insult/bantering, I'll be stopping it!