Reported in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph: New research has found playful teasing develops social skills.

Just what the kids needed, a new reason to be a bully. Just where is the line between “playful teasing” and bullying anyway?

I am pretty much the opposite of what this article describes.

New research has found playful teasing, and being called names such as “ranga”, could be good for young people because it helps them bond and develop social skills.

Not in my case. From my experiences, I may never be able to “bond” with anybody beyond distant friendship.

It may even make “victims” more likely to take on leadership roles in the long term.

Again, not in my case. I have terrible anxiety now. Leadership? Never. I will do what others ask of me grudgingly, but I can never tell others what to do. It is part of my problems that I can never let anybody see me as authoritative for fear that it will translate as seeming mean or unlikeable.

“They learn how to respond to playful criticism … that can be useful in later life,” she said, adding that teased kids could end up in leadership roles – and became strong enough to come back with witty comments.

My response to any kind of criticism? Offense. Embarrassment. Shame. Blow to my self esteem. Takes me right back to my days in the playground. Intellectually, I can tell what kind of criticism it is and how I should respond, but I just don’t.

This is terrible advice. This article is dangerous. Really, really dangerous. Take it from me, I am utterly effed up.