Working Girl, I like your style. Way to come back swinging.
If it works, it works. Sometimes laughter is exactly the best response to something that is crazy and out of whack. The WAY one laughs makes all the difference though, as you say. If your laughter is derisive and snarky (vs. nervous or conciliatory), and if (further) being"snarky" isn't going to backfire on you, that's terrific.
Laughing snarkily at your boss, though, is probably always going to be a dangerous thing. As will laughing at a particularly aggressive harrasser. Dominant and domineering people will not like being "attacked" in this way, and could retaliate.
Cause that's what harrassment really is... an attempt to dominate. It's all just like handling middle school bullies... most of them (but *not* all of them) can be handled most effectively by simply refusing to react in the submissive or way that they want.
Almostgotit.com
of TN
@
Oct 09, 2008 20:35:31 PM
I read a bunch of these comments and as a long time manager in a business with lots of men and not so many women, I admired a woman who had the self confidence and savoir-faire to deal with idiotic inappropriate comments, and if laughter was a technique that worked, great. If the situation is really serious, and it sometimes is, then, yes, get HR involved or the boss involved. But for the countless little situations that happen in the workplace, value those who can deal with it without escalating it into something it doesn't need to be. The good thing about laughter is that it diffuses a situation, whereas anger usually begets anger.
A. Reader
of
@
Oct 08, 2008 16:30:33 PM
Gawrsh and O-Golleee!
At my age if anyone of the opposite sex calls me sweetie, I just say thank you darlin'
Almostgotit.com of TN @ Oct 09, 2008 20:35:31 PM
A. Reader of @ Oct 08, 2008 16:30:33 PM
HillbillyBill of TN @ Oct 08, 2008 15:52:14 PM
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