I've been online friends with this fellow for a few months now, and needless to say he's the kind of guy that's always the life of the party: wildly inappropriate jokes, constant humor, lighthearted etc. In the time I've known him he's been nothing but this facade of humorous statements and disturbing jpegs; I know nothing about his personal life, or how he truly behaves in real life (he's told me the sick humor is just a persona).
Anyway, the problem is, anytime we talk I can never tell if he's being serious or simply joking around. Today I happened to mention how awesome ice cream is, and he said he doesn't really like it. I then tried to make a joke along the lines of how he must have had a terribly boring childhood lacking in toys and friends... Apparently that's almost accurate.
He explained how he had an absolutely awful childhood, and while I won't get into details, my jest offended him deeply.
At this point I don't know what to say to him. The joke was in poor taste and I feel absolutely dreadful about it, so of course I want to apologize the next chance I get. On the one hand though, I feel like I should tell him straight up that there was no way I could have known about his history, and no way I could have been able to discern whether he was being serious about the ice cream statement. I'm pretty sure if I go that route though, he'll want nothing to do with me for a while - of course I wouldn't blame him, but in my mind there really was no way I could have known my joke would offend him, when half the time he spurts offences that would make your grandmother pout.
So what should I do Escapist? Shoulder the guilt and make him aware of how sorry I am, how wrong I was to offend him? Explain that the situation was never intended at a jab at his life, and that it was impossible for me to predict it would offend him?
When you've said something that's unintentionally pissed of a friend, what did you do/say to rectify the situation?
Captcha: for jewsonic
I find it disturbing that that was the captcha, when all this friend talks about is Sonic the Hedgehog. Damn cosmic forces, toying with my mind.
Anyway, the problem is, anytime we talk I can never tell if he's being serious or simply joking around. Today I happened to mention how awesome ice cream is, and he said he doesn't really like it. I then tried to make a joke along the lines of how he must have had a terribly boring childhood lacking in toys and friends... Apparently that's almost accurate.
He explained how he had an absolutely awful childhood, and while I won't get into details, my jest offended him deeply.
At this point I don't know what to say to him. The joke was in poor taste and I feel absolutely dreadful about it, so of course I want to apologize the next chance I get. On the one hand though, I feel like I should tell him straight up that there was no way I could have known about his history, and no way I could have been able to discern whether he was being serious about the ice cream statement. I'm pretty sure if I go that route though, he'll want nothing to do with me for a while - of course I wouldn't blame him, but in my mind there really was no way I could have known my joke would offend him, when half the time he spurts offences that would make your grandmother pout.
So what should I do Escapist? Shoulder the guilt and make him aware of how sorry I am, how wrong I was to offend him? Explain that the situation was never intended at a jab at his life, and that it was impossible for me to predict it would offend him?
When you've said something that's unintentionally pissed of a friend, what did you do/say to rectify the situation?
Captcha: for jewsonic
I find it disturbing that that was the captcha, when all this friend talks about is Sonic the Hedgehog. Damn cosmic forces, toying with my mind.
