Your jokes tear down people
Jokes are obviously meant to be funny. The trouble with this is that if people don’t know you and vice versa, your jokes could backfire even if they have no intention of being prejudiced or hostile. Saying something like, “Hey, I was just joking,” afterward will be too late.
Even “half-meaning” jokes can cause social suicide, especially if they tear down other people. When this happens, you undermine their self-worth. People will find your humor irritating and won’t want to waste their time talking to you.
Try to be more attentive to how other people respond to your jokes if you wish to gain more respect from others. Be more aware of how they can affect the conversation.
Humor is different for everyone, and while it may be okay to joke around people you’re comfortable with, you might offend someone who would be within earshot of that quip.
Remember, there are enough people who become aggressive towards people who think it’s okay to joke about others in a way that puts them down, and anyone who doesn’t know you will presume that you fall in this category.
You don’t have to stop making jokes. You simply need to find another way to show your sense of humor so you won’t offend others. This would be a good start for earning respect from others.
