13 July 2023 , 12:27
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For many of us, the jokes we make among best friends can often be a little cheekier than those made among strangers. It's the sort of affectionate teasing that only comes from a close, mutual understanding.
It's important however to ensure that any banter doesn't go too far and hurt those you care about, as one 29-year-old woman recently found out when she made an insensitive joke about a pal's pregnancy news.
According to this conflicted woman, her close friend, who she refers to under the pseudonym Alice, has been trying to conceive for three years, while she is happily childfree.
They'll often jest about the stark differences between them and their life goals, but it's all meant in "good fun", and neither of them has ever taken offence before this incident.
For example, Alice will tease her about treating her dog as a child, while she'll poke fun at her right back, telling her how "she'll miss all the disposable income when she has kids." Unfortunately, she now fears she may have crossed a line.
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Taking to Reddit, the confused woman revealed: "On Friday, Alice, a couple of other friends, and I went out to lunch and Alice told us that she was three months pregnant.
"I jokingly said, 'I'm so sorry. Let me know if you need a ride to the clinic'. Alice flipped out and called me an insensitive b****. I told her that I was joking but she wouldn't hear it and she ended up leaving. She hasn't responded to my texts and calls ever since."
Reaching out for advice, she continued: "Our other friends are staying out of it and don't want to give their opinions. I understand that my comment would come off as rude if I said it to a stranger but Alice knows me and this is how we joke with each other."
She went on to clarify that Alice suffered a couple of miscarriages around two years ago, but she "didn't make that connection".
A number of Reddit users warned her that she had some serious apologising to do, and felt she'd chosen the wrong moment to make such an "oblivious" joke.
One person commented: "Not everything is a joke. She has tried for a baby for years and you couldn't give her a moment of earnest support and congratulations?
"This is exactly like people who get up and give attention-sucking, allegedly funny best man or maid of honour speeches at weddings or, worse yet, stand up with a jokey joke 'just kidding, not really objecting' objection."
Another agreed: "There are so many sweet things she could have said that were supportive but continued on in the joking theme. This is just sad."
A third person wrote: "There is a time and a place for jokes and this was not it. Infertility is no joke. My friend just had a baby with her boyfriend after trying for five years and having PCOS. She also suffered a miscarriage.
"It's not funny, it's not cute to make jokes like that and I don't blame her if she never wants to talk to you again."
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