Situation · Family and friends
“My friend puts me down with jokes”
What could be going on
Sarcastic: Fits if the humour carries hostility they won't own.
Passive aggression: Could be anger in disguise; check whether they deny it when you object.
Envy disguised as critique: Check whether jokes target what you're proud of.
Contempt: Fits if you sense they look down on you; check for eye-rolling and dismissal too.
Humour as deflection: A milder cause: banter may be how they handle closeness; check if they stop when asked.
Questions to carry
- When the last joke landed, who was there, and what had I just shared?
- In the second after the joke, what do I feel, and what do I do with my face?
Also said as
- he makes digs at me and says it's only banter
- my friend's jokes always have a sting
- she mocks me in front of others then says lighten up
- why does my friend humiliate me as a joke
- friend makes fun of me
- my mate's teasing feels mean