…this isn’t even a good argument to use against me, because I, quite literally, never say mean things to or about my friends because of pressure or competitions or whatever. Hell, I don’t think I ever even talked mean about someone behind their back, even if they may deserve it for doing something bad. I probably am more deliberate and gentle with my words than I ought to sometimes.
And my point was responding to your hypothetical, calling your friend mean things as a joke and the other person understands that doesn’t count as abuse… because it’s not meant to be taken seriously. And was not meant seriously in the moment either. You literally said “…out of friendship”.
…not something I ever do, either. Seriously. I don’t even get how being verbally abusive is human nature.