Are these normal family interactions?

[Anonymous]

I'm genuinely looking for outsider opinions, because I witnessed some very odd interactions Sunday night when I had dinner with an old friend's family. We were good buddies in elementary school, lost touch, got back in touch recently, and he invited me along with a mutual friend to dinner at his parents' house. (We are all late 20s or 30).

To summarize, this was the kind of stuff I heard at his family's dinner table:
- Mutual friend complimented my old buddy's shirt; my buddy's dad was like, "That's mine; he had to let it out because he's fatter than I am." That was fine, pretty funny actually, but it got weirder.
- My friend's younger sister, who is in her mid-twenties, wears a strapless dress with a pretty high hemline. My friend tells her she looks like a stripper; she shoots back that he looks like a sad dork. They both laugh like this is genuinely amusing.
- At one point my friend's mom jokes that her father hoped her husband would follow in his footsteps; the dad replies with, "Yeah, yeah, I'm the scapegoat of your family."
- My friend's younger sister talks about a young man she is trying to date. My friend says the young man sounds too smart and too classy for his sister. She laughs and tells him to shut up, like it's a harmless joke.

There were a couple other weird, seemingly dysfunctional comments which gave me pause but I can't remember them. Nobody else seemed to think the dynamic was toxic, but I couldn't imagine talking like that to my family member. And the weird thing is they all seem to really support each other. I don't know, it seemed very dysfunctional and yet I can't help but wonder if I'm just not used to these kinds of family dynamics.

[Anonymous]

Have you heard a joke before OP? Do you understand humor?

[Anonymous]

That's just their sense of humor. If no one was upset then not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you heard a joke before OP? Do you understand humor?

You seem really messed up.

[Anonymous]

Different people joke differently. This is their way. As long as nobody's feelings were hurt, it's fine and not dysfunctional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm genuinely looking for outsider opinions, because I witnessed some very odd interactions Sunday night when I had dinner with an old friend's family. We were good buddies in elementary school, lost touch, got back in touch recently, and he invited me along with a mutual friend to dinner at his parents' house. (We are all late 20s or 30).

To summarize, this was the kind of stuff I heard at his family's dinner table:
- Mutual friend complimented my old buddy's shirt; my buddy's dad was like, "That's mine; he had to let it out because he's fatter than I am." That was fine, pretty funny actually, but it got weirder.
- My friend's younger sister, who is in her mid-twenties, wears a strapless dress with a pretty high hemline. My friend tells her she looks like a stripper; she shoots back that he looks like a sad dork. They both laugh like this is genuinely amusing.
- At one point my friend's mom jokes that her father hoped her husband would follow in his footsteps; the dad replies with, "Yeah, yeah, I'm the scapegoat of your family."
- My friend's younger sister talks about a young man she is trying to date. My friend says the young man sounds too smart and too classy for his sister. She laughs and tells him to shut up, like it's a harmless joke.

There were a couple other weird, seemingly dysfunctional comments which gave me pause but I can't remember them. Nobody else seemed to think the dynamic was toxic, but I couldn't imagine talking like that to my family member. And the weird thing is they all seem to really support each other. I don't know, it seemed very dysfunctional and yet I can't help but wonder if I'm just not used to these kinds of family dynamics.

It's normal for their family. Are you from another country? (not being sarcastic)

[Anonymous]

I better never invite you to my house, OP! You'd faint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you heard a joke before OP? Do you understand humor?

You seem really messed up.

I'm so messed up that I laugh. A lot. I'm happy.

[Anonymous]

Well ok, thanks for the opinions

[Anonymous]

Totally normal family behavior

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well ok, thanks for the opinions

What answers were you hoping for? It seems pretty obvious that's just their sense of humor. I know people like this...it's no big deal

[Anonymous]

Op, they sound Asian to me! I know a family that talk like that to each other and they are close net.

[Anonymous]

OP sounds like the sad dork.

[Anonymous]

Calling your sister a stripper because her dress? Wow.

[Anonymous]

NP here. OP, at least they joke with each other! My IL's are so end-of-the-world glum, I have to hide the sharp objects if I go on vacation with them. They talk about their (lack of) health, and each little detail, for fun - shoot me now!

People who can dish it out AND take it are a rare breed, in this area. I would love it, personally. It shows they have not only a sense of humor, but are witty and smart, with healthy boundaries. I would take that over my depressed IL's, any day.