Laughter as a passive aggressive tool

Deemed as Normal wrote: »

It works very well because people hate to be laughed at. The result is that the person who's been laughed at will suddenly doubt what they've said, and will not be as free and easy about speaking their mind when around that same person next time. Any experiences of this yourselves?

In interactions in general, sometimes someone might laugh in this way after something you say and you may feel like saying "why are you laughing?". But you know they'll just pretend they didn't hear you. So if you really wanted to know get them to answer about why they laughed, you'd have to ask again; and that would make you look desperate. That's the annoying thing about it. The funny thing is though - you nearly always have a good idea why they laughed anyway.

Girls seem to do it more. For example, I remember in a store I worked in once, a guy had asked a female floor staff member about the phone chargers. I was in the aisle they were in when she showed him where they were. He seemed a bit distracted for a moment as he looked at the different chargers on the wall. The girl he'd been dealing with didn't know whether he was finished with her or not. After a brief few awkward seconds he then realised he didn't need her and turned and said "that's fine thanks". She then gave her little giggle. It would be one thing if he was nasty to her something. If it were me, I might just think to myself "gee, that's odd". I would never feel the need to let the person know, with a quick laugh, that I think they're odd! I do not get why people have to do this? People have misunderstandings all the time. Just today, I was at the checkouts and I had a cauliflower that I'd already paid for in another store... when I let the cashier know this, she gave a little giggle. Completely uncalled for!

Another tale - I remember when I worked in a store once, I'd been chatting to these two girl who seemed to work together a lot. The next day when I was passing by I saw them again and went over to them. One of them had seem a bit more friendly then the other. Anyway I made a remark about what they were doing and said "be sure don't it all fall down on ye anyway". And for some reason one of them started laughing... and not with me! I was surprised and did nothing as she laughed. Whatever doubt I had in my mind about what I'd said sounding odd was magnified by her laughter. Her laughter nearly came to a stop, but then when she realised that I wasn't going to say or do anything, she started laughing again! Really annoyed me. I felt like saying "what's your fcuking problem?" but I knew it would look insecure. Instead I tried to explain what I meant by my remark (in case she didn't understand something herself), and thereby hoping that she'd take it back. The other did not laugh one bit, and even seemed a bit confused by it. I said one or two quick things to the other girl and then left.

I also notice that young people who are really sensitive as to what is and isn't considered cool and trendy, are the sort who tend to do this more. I knew one guy once who was super sensitive about getting this all right; the skin fade haircut, the fake D4 accent, the skinny jeans, etc. Anyway, once I happened to mention to him that I was going to a concert. He asked who and I told him Billy Joel. He then gave a little laugh. I just ignored it, but it's that sort of thing that I'm talking about.