Discussion
I was giving a friend some crap once, realized that among men of my generation, this is by far the commonest way of expressing affection.
Holding this idea in my head with the "boys are only mean because they like you" critique is interesting. I don't feel any hesitation ragging on my straight male buddies, but I'd never do it with my female friends, and I'm hesitant doing it with my gay male friends, who are by and large smarter and more sensitive than the straight men.
@fatsam I think we (Gen X men and older: maybe some younger) are willing to be rude and crude with our mates *because* we know they'll take it in good spirits and not punch us in the face. Strangers might not be so forgiving, so we're polite with them. And it's just plain rude to do it to people who will experience it as the privileged punching down from a social position of power. Y/N?
@cstross absolutely yes. The punching down versus punching sideways is a critical distinguishing factor I think.
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