DON'T try to be funny about my Dad!

[bassybill]

My younger sister has a guy in her "friend zone" who is always cracking unfunny gags about our 80 year old Dad being ancient and doddery, et cetera. Thing is, our Dad is awesome - great jazz drummer for nearly 60 years, used to race cars, terrific father to three kids when my mother died 36 years ago, et cetera et cetera. Some of you guys met him when he came to NYC with me this summer, or you may have seen the vids I posted of his birthday party.

Anyway, I can tell my sister is just as unimpressed with this young guy's infantile attempts at humour as I am. I'm really thick skinned when people crack jokes at MY expense. I have a good laugh and it's just water off a duck's back. But family is different. Long story short - if I get the impression once more that this guy is disrespecting my Dad, who is at least 500 times the man that this joker will ever be, I'm putting his lights out for a couple of hours.

Sorry, needed to vent a little. So, am I being over senstitive? Or would you feel the same?

[LowDown Hal]

Tell him, not us.

[5StringBlues]

Swift kick in the Ding-ding.


You're welcome.

[macaroni tony]

I don't think I'd feel the same - then again, I'm not you. Everybody's got their thing that pushes their buttons. If that guy doesn't know he's treading on shaky ground, maybe let him know before he wakes up and can't remember anything.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by LowDown Hal

Tell him, not us.

Okay. Sorry if I took up your time.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by bassybill

Okay. Sorry if I took up your time.

No problem. Now, go forth and kick ding-dings.

[Phalex]

I feel the same way Bill. My father turned 91 this past year. No 2 ways about it, he is old. He also lived through the great depression, paid his own way through school driving a lumber truck and playing clarinet in a swing band, and he got an all expenses paid trip to Germany back in the 40's. He may be old, but the guy was never a pansy.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I feel the same way Bill. My father turned 91 this past year. No 2 ways about it, he is old. He also lived through the great depression, paid his own way through school driving a lumber truck and playing clarinet in a swing band, and he got an all expenses paid trip to Germany back in the 40's. He may be old, but the guy was never a pansy.

You nailed it. Thanks.

[5StringBlues]

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Now, go forth and kick ding-dings.

Schweet! Sigged.

[Darkstrike]

Not cool, I'd rip the guy a new one.

[Chebass88]

Isn't this your SISTER's problem? Also, I imagine this is why he's staying in the Friend Zone with her...

I'd lay it on the line once, and tell the guy you'd appreciate it if he knocked it off. Chances are, he'll understand and back off. If he doesn't, ignore him, and if your sister is bothered by his comments, she can ignore him also. An ignored idiot has no effect.

ian

[LiquidMidnight]

Maybe he thinks that if he disrespects the alpha male, he'll somehow get out of the friends zone.

[kesslari]

Originally Posted by Chebass88

I'd lay it on the line once, and tell the guy you'd appreciate it if he knocked it off. Chances are, he'll understand and back off. If he doesn't, ignore him, and if your sister is bothered by his comments, she can ignore him also. An ignored idiot has no effect.

ian

This is pretty much it.
And if he doesn't lay off, and ignoring him doesn't work, THEN you can punch his ticket.
We call it "percussive maintenance with a clue-by-four." Some people need it

[Chebass88]

True, but not if alpha male = brother/father. And especially if BassyBill looks as god-like as his avatar.

Blood is ALWAYS thicker than water. If our infantile friend doesn't know this, he is doomed to friend zone forever, and good riddance.

ian

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Chebass88

Isn't this your SISTER's problem? Also, I imagine this is why he's staying in the Friend Zone with her...

I'd lay it on the line once, and tell the guy you'd appreciate it if he knocked it off. Chances are, he'll understand and back off. If he doesn't, ignore him, and if your sister is bothered by his comments, she can ignore him also. An ignored idiot has no effect.

ian

True enough - that's the rational response, for sure. Sometimes it just feels like a relief to react irrationally, you know? Even if it feels good only briefly.

Don't worry, I'm not about to hospitalise the guy when I haven't even given him a chance to shut up. Like I said, just venting here and gathering views on other folks' feelings. I can control my impulsiveness. We all have to, after all.

[Yerf Dog]

What would your Dad do?

[Relic]

My dad is great and because the guy sometimes worked 3 jobs to put a roof over our head and allow us to live comfortably, he's earned my watching his back.
If it were me Bill, I would just politely tell this guy that he really should just shut up. usually that will do the trick. When you let it go, you're really just non-verbally giving this guy the green light to continue being an idiot.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

What would your Dad do?

Dad just laughs off jokes at his own expense, same as I do. How Dad would react to people disrespecting his own father? I really have no idea. My Dad didn't really know his own dad (my grandfather) at all. Interesting question, in lots of ways.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by Relic

My dad is great and because the guy sometimes worked 3 jobs to put a roof over our head and allow us to live comfortably, he's earned my watching his back.
If it were me Bill, I would just politely tell this guy that he really should just shut up. usually that will do the trick. When you let it go, you're really just non-verbally giving this guy the green light to continue being an idiot.

All sensible. I can do what you suggest with good humour too - always the best way.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by bassybill

All sensible. I can do what you suggest with good humour too - always the best way.

yep, then if it does not work, THEN threaten to tear his face off and use it to polish your basses.