@Lemons said:

Enemas?

But seriously. Two questions based on the last episode:

1.Is "good-natured ribbing" OK regardless of the recipient? If someone takes it to heart, is that the fault of the ribber or the rib-ee?

2.So which WOULD be worse? A cake made with salt instead of sugar OR a cake iced with congealed gravy?

1. Good-natured ribbing is fine, but can be demoralizing if it's constant. Howard has a way about him - sometimes he comes across as light-hearted, but usually he sounds either serious in his criticisms or overly (and unnecessarily) sarcastic. He is not often a sincere person, and puts his friends down seemingly for sport. I think that would wear me down after a while too. I like this storyline - it's time Raj stands up to Howard's constant snark.

2. I'm giving them both a hard pass, thanks - no cake for me!

@Gothish520 said:

@Lemons said:

Enemas?

But seriously. Two questions based on the last episode:

1.Is "good-natured ribbing" OK regardless of the recipient? If someone takes it to heart, is that the fault of the ribber or the rib-ee?

2.So which WOULD be worse? A cake made with salt instead of sugar OR a cake iced with congealed gravy?

1. Good-natured ribbing is fine, but can be demoralizing if it's constant. Howard has a way about him - sometimes he comes across as light-hearted, but usually he sounds either serious in his criticisms or overly (and unnecessarily) sarcastic. He is not often a sincere person, and puts his friends down seemingly for sport. I think that would wear me down after a while too. I like this storyline - it's time Raj stands up to Howard's constant snark.

2. I'm giving them both a hard pass, thanks - no cake for me!

1.I agree. Occasional good-natured ribbing can be fun, but constantly can tear someone down. And from Howard they come across as not-so-thinly-veiled insults that just highlight his own insecurities. I think it depends in part on what follows the "rib". For example, a wink and a smile to show "just kidding" helps. I also like this storyline and hope that Raj coming into his own gains momentum. I'm good with him and Howard making up, but hopefully Howard will learn a lesson from this.

2.Yeah neither sounds good to me, though I'd choose the gravy one and just not eat the icing. Truth be told, I don't really like cake much. I prefer pie, especially good mushy pies like lemon meringue.

@Lemons said:

Enemas?

But seriously. Two questions based on the last episode:

1.Is "good-natured ribbing" OK regardless of the recipient? If someone takes it to heart, is that the fault of the ribber or the rib-ee?

2.So which WOULD be worse? A cake made with salt instead of sugar OR a cake iced with congealed gravy?

-1. Ribbing can easily rub a person the wrong way; especially over time. It works best when the other person can give as-good-as-he-gets. Raj isn't quick-witted enough to take on a jokester like Howard and “put-him-in-his-place”; so he suffers.

Bottomline: think it's OK when it's back-and-forth; but, not when it's a constant-one-way thing.

-2. A cake made with salt instead of sugar is just a giant biscuit--doable.

FYI: Hurt wrist--typing with "elbow"--sucky.

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

-2. A cake made with salt instead of sugar is just a giant biscuit--doable.

Good point! Surprised Sheldon didn't realize it, though I think his mind was distracted in vengeance mode.

And sorry about your wrist! You're quite a proficient elbow-typer, though!

One of my best friends goes back 33 years. We always - especially when we first see each other - throw out a quick insult. And we constantly 'rib' each other. But we know darn well we don't mean any of it. And we don't do that to ANYONE else in the group. It's just something we do - and we know it doesn't bother the other one. Other people though would be highly offended. It's a rapport that's built up over time. And it's not for everyone.

The moment someone shares that it's bothering them is the moment it should end.

@censorshipsucks06 said: The moment someone shares that it's bothering them is the moment it should end.

And that's why I'm glad Raj had his "wake up" moment and said something (finally).

CS, I know you're not a big Raj fan. (I'm remembering that correctly, right?) What if he gets his act together and takes some pride in himself- could your stance change?

@Lemons said:

@Gothish520 said:

@Lemons said:

Enemas?

But seriously. Two questions based on the last episode:

1.Is "good-natured ribbing" OK regardless of the recipient? If someone takes it to heart, is that the fault of the ribber or the rib-ee?

2.So which WOULD be worse? A cake made with salt instead of sugar OR a cake iced with congealed gravy?

1. Good-natured ribbing is fine, but can be demoralizing if it's constant. Howard has a way about him - sometimes he comes across as light-hearted, but usually he sounds either serious in his criticisms or overly (and unnecessarily) sarcastic. He is not often a sincere person, and puts his friends down seemingly for sport. I think that would wear me down after a while too. I like this storyline - it's time Raj stands up to Howard's constant snark.

2. I'm giving them both a hard pass, thanks - no cake for me!

1.I agree. Occasional good-natured ribbing can be fun, but constantly can tear someone down. And from Howard they come across as not-so-thinly-veiled insults that just highlight his own insecurities. I think it depends in part on what follows the "rib". For example, a wink and a smile to show "just kidding" helps. I also like this storyline and hope that Raj coming into his own gains momentum. I'm good with him and Howard making up, but hopefully Howard will learn a lesson from this.

2.Yeah neither sounds good to me, though I'd choose the gravy one and just not eat the icing. Truth be told, I don't really like cake much. I prefer pie. But not fruit pies. Good mushy pies like lemon meringue.

Excellent point about Howard's snark highlighting his insecurity. And yes, one could always eat the innards of the cake, though I've also always preferred pie - pretty much any kind, with pecan, apple crumb and sweet potato being my favorites.

Seems like Raj is morphing into Kunal. Not sure if that's actually good for the show, long term.

@Lemons said:

@FormerlyKnownAs said:

-2. A cake made with salt instead of sugar is just a giant biscuit--doable.

Good point! Surprised Sheldon didn't realize it, though I think his mind was distracted in vengeance mode.

And sorry about your wrist! You're quite a proficient elbow-typer, though!

If a biscuit was made with as much salt as a cake has sugar, it wouldn't be a tasty biscuit.

@Lemons said:

@censorshipsucks06 said: The moment someone shares that it's bothering them is the moment it should end.

And that's why I'm glad Raj had his "wake up" moment and said something (finally).

CS, I know you're not a big Raj fan. (I'm remembering that correctly, right?) What if he gets his act together and takes some pride in himself- could your stance change?

Correct. He's always been my least favorite character. But if they can shape him up, I'm open to changing my mind on him. Because his pivoting back and forth between being a weepy loser, and then the moment he gets a girl - becoming an arrogant ass, is just not funny anymore. It's almost as if EVERY other character grew, except for him (and Stuart). So I'm ALL FOR him being written differently (and better).

@Knixon said:

Seems like Raj is morphing into Kunal. Not sure if that's actually good for the show, long term.

Actually, that's a little what I thought when I first saw him come in with curly hair, but I think right now that's the only similarity with Kunal.

@Lemons said:

Enemas?

But seriously. Two questions based on the last episode:

1.Is "good-natured ribbing" OK regardless of the recipient? If someone takes it to heart, is that the fault of the ribber or the rib-ee?

2.So which WOULD be worse? A cake made with salt instead of sugar OR a cake iced with congealed gravy?

Hi, Lemons.

1: I think playful ribbing is a huge part of every close friendship, especially among men. When I hang with my guy friends they spend most of the time making fun of each other; I think it's partly social psychology, guys tend to bond through ridicule.

2: The first one.

1. Answer: The Rib-let

2. Answer: You can only ice a cake with icing. Cakes are made with flour silly.

Now onto the subject of your dislike of escalators. See if this might change you mind about them. https://youtu.be/duiRmGxeWSQ

@CalabrianQueen said: Hi, Lemons.

1: I think playful ribbing is a huge part of every close friendship, especially among men. When I hang with my guy friends they spend most of the time making fun of each other; I think it's partly social psychology, guys tend to bond through ridicule.

2: The first one.

I think that perhaps there is playful ribbing, and then there is insulting/excessive ribbing, and they are two different things. I s'pose every now and then I get in a good, loving rib with a friend, but never insulting.

@znexyish said:

1. Answer: The Rib-let

2. Answer: You can only ice a cake with icing. Cakes are made with flour silly.

Now onto the subject of your dislike of escalators. See if this might change you mind about them. https://youtu.be/duiRmGxeWSQ

1.Is Rib-let something said by a speech-impedimented frog? And if one of his friends were to rib him for his rib-let, would that be OK? And who would be at fault if the frog took it to heart, the rib-ber of the rib-let or the rib-let-ing rib-bee?

Or were you referring to a miniature McDonald's sandwich?

2.I'll make you a cake with flower after I finish sitting in my new living room suit.

3.That video not only scares me speechless, it hurts my thighs.