I assume most view laughing with someone as a good thing. I think satire is an attempt to get everyone laughing. The target may see themselves in the satire, but can take refuge and think "well at least I am not that bad" and laugh.
With friends, we often make a joke at their expense --laughing at them, to get them to laugh with us. Its a friendly way to point out a perceived foilble without getting all serious. "Dude, you have got your head up your ass on this issue", says one friend to another. Its mocking the first, so he can step back and maybe take some perspective. The insultee then may often respond witb a retort, again attempting to help the other gain some perspective, "At least I am not pussy-whipped like you." They both laugh, but GET each others point. Thats an at/with laugh. This ussually does not work with strangers. Imagine the same convo between two guys on the street. Blood in the streets. I sense some communication on FFL occurs when someone assumes too close a sense of friendship with other poster, throws out a laugh at/with perspective-inducing barb, and the receiver takes it as an insult, not as intended. In groups, there can be pure laugh ats, when its deemed the insultee beyond help, but the barb is a cautionary tale to the group --"lets us not be such assholes". And then there is the one-on-one put down. Not the most refined behavior. But for it to be an attack, to draw blood, the insultee has to play victim and accept it as an insult. A "sticks and stones" sort of thing. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
