  I love my RL friends dearly...but getting together with them is often like a smartass convention. You have to be on your game, or you get slaughtered! Everything is fair game...nothing is sacred. Add alcohol, and things can get pretty damn amusing...as long as you're not the target! I'm tempted to say that I'm the worst of the bunch for busting chops...but they sure do give me a run for my money. It all starts with my friend's father...he's known me since I was 12. He *cough* lovingly refers to me as "The Beotch". Being greeted in that manner certainly sets the tone...and then it's a vicious cycle where we all try to one-up each other. Sounds rough, I know...but we spend the majority of our time together near tears we're laughing so hard. Honestly though, we're all very loving and devoted...we're the family that we got to CHOOSE. So as it turns out, in our circles, those zingers we send at each other are actually a form of affection, a sign of our endearment.
The way I see it, that's true love and friendship...being so comfortable with each other that we can filet our friends with mock insults and not only do we not take offense, we find it hilarious. Of course, we ARE nice to each other now and then, but obviously that isn't nearly as fun for us. After all, if we can't laugh at ourselves we may be tempted to take ourselves too seriously...and that's just plain dangerous if you ask me.
;) So if I seem mean, or you think I'm insulting you...*cough* Neruda *cough*... it actually means I LIKE you. It's when I'm nice that you have to watch out. *evil grin* Can you guess what they bust my ass about most? *nods* Yes, my computer addiction. When my friend asked where I was going next weekend, and I said it was "computer related"...she just shook her head slowly and said nothing. Leaving the Queen smartass speechless...priceless! 
