Yo gang,
Thanks for responding.
Having read the article I found it difficult to take this serious.
I have yet to see 'playground' teasing being anything but mean and hurtful...emphasising the recipient's differences.
The most charitable thing I cansay is that I'm please his teasing taught him all those values. My personal experience and that of my son is quite the contrary.
Teasing in moderation between parent and child can be advantageous.
After thought: it had to happen sooner or later Polycarp and i agree on something....Graham put a mark on the wall declare a national holiday....Just kidding besides who couldn't do nith a 'national agreement day holiday? :-)

Teasing = Bullying. They are twins. I don't buy into this ranting that it is "character building". Yeah, I heard that as a kid. I really don't think I'm a better person because I was teased as a kid. I would certainly have less phycological self esteem issues if there was less teasing, or if someone bothered to at least check it. I was told it was just "character building". Bonnox! At least this generation will have more confidence with this at check. Blessings +^+^+ Fletcher

One final word on the topic of teasing...

A child becomes what he/she experiences.

While parents possess the original key
to their offspring's experience,
teachers have a spare key. They too can
open or close the minds and hearts of children.

My past experiences with so called "teasing,"
have been negative ones.

I was called "unpronounceable," at high school by
my maths teacher. She thought it funny to "tease,"
me in front of the entire class.

This woman was a
virtuoso of the verbal slap. In her class, I
knew how it felt to be a zero.

Perhaps that's why even today, I still have a
mental block and feel
like an idiot, when it comes to maths.

Whereas my English Lit. teacher
captivated my imagination and
captured my heart. She never criticized, she
coaxed. She never pushed, she persuaded. She
never insulted or teased, she inspired. With
sensitivity she taught us to contrast drama and
life, to evaluate performance and character.
Through her efforts I came to appreciate Literature,
and to love the theatre. She provided us with
incandescent moments that I still treasure.

Teasing may be "fun" for the adult. It's rarely
fun for the child.

Hmmmm, interesting topic Examinator.

As Romany said a little light teasing can defuse a fraught situation.

As others have pointed out bullies often use the excuse "I was only teasing".

Leads me to consider that Teasing is to a sunshower as Bullying is to a thunderstorm.

One can help you grow, the other can trample you into mud. It is the intent and context that reveals which is which.