“Shocking Prank Turns Relationship Sour: Why This Woman Finally Said Enough to Her ‘Manchild’ Boyfriend”

It’s important to keep teasing and joking positive in a relationship

It’s important to keep teasing and joking positive in a relationship, as malign humor towards significant others can foster toxicity. “Having an aggressive sense of humor is a bad sign for the relationship in general, but it is worse if the style of humor is used in the relationship,” Hall said. “If you think that your partner tells mean-spirited jokes, then it’s likely you’ve seen that firsthand in your relationship.”

Negative humor like put-downs, sarcasm, and mockery are generally seen as aggressive, judgmental, and hostile by partners. In fact, it was found that antisocial humor from men and self-defeating humor from women were some of the signs that the relationship isn’t going to last. 

If a partner senses that teasing or joking is hurting the relationship, they should immediately address it by being honest and saying they dislike the remarks they receive. Having a direct approach and telling them that their jokes are hurtful and unacceptable can yield positive results. 

Hall concludes everything by saying that it’s good to have humor, but it’s better to see it in your partner, and best to share it. “It’s not about being a great comedian, but finding what’s funny in the everyday and enjoying it together, whether that’s ‘The Simpsons’ or repeating funny things your kids say or The New Yorker cartoons or relishing in the absurdity of life. It is most important you do it together.”

The readers sided with the girlfriend on this one