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Differences of these words and phrases？

I am wondering what are the differences of ”tease“, "make fun of", "laugh at" and "play a joke on"? In what situations should I use them? Which is well-meaning and which is not? Thank you!

For learning: English
Base language: English
Category: Language

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dovie
Feb 28, 2013
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Hello Dovie

”tease“, "make fun of", "laugh at" and "play a joke on"?

In regard to your question, let me introduce some words to you.

Benevolent = good intentions
Malevolent = bad intentions

Of the terms you show here, none is specifically Malevolent or "mean" or "mean spirited" but all of them could be. It depends on the context.

"This question is about you PLAYING A JOKE ON US, right?"----[That is an example of me "teasing" you; but from the explicit context, you cannot really know if Bruce is making a friendly remark, or an unfriendly remark.

If I say, "you are PLAYING A JOKE ON US," or
"you are LAUGHING AT us" or
"you are TEASING us" or
"you are MAKING FUN OF us";

Each of these could be spoken or written by Bruce, in a cold, mocking, brutally sarcastic way. It could also be that Bruce is using these expressions in a humorous, friendly, gentle form of joking, or "kidding---around" with you in a loving way.

(continued)

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Bruce
Feb 28, 2013
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(Part Two)

Of course, if you and I are talking, you can learn from my facial expression exactly whether my intentions are Benevolent or Malevolent; but in any kind of Written Communication, your response will be based entirely upon your understanding of what is going on.

Years ago, I learned on the Internet, it is better not to make too many such "jokes" with people, because they have no way of really understanding if I am practicing a friendly humor, or being some kind of snot-nosed jerk, full of hostility and antagnonism toward the other person.

In the forum, we can see that those offering "corrections" do not
LAUGH AT, TEASE, MAKE FUN OF, or PLAY A JOKE on the foreign students who want to practice English. The person doing the teaching knows that the foreign student has no way of knowing that the teacher might be practicing a Benevolent Humor. The student might feel terribly hurt and brutally criticized just for trying to write or talk with a foreign language.

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You could in fact, use most of these almost interchangeably.
---Warm Regards, Bruce

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Bruce
Feb 28, 2013
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