As you go about your day, you probably frequently hear rude comments and slurs like, “wow, that’s so gay,” and “you’re retarded,” repeated throughout the halls. Now, this shouldn’t be surprising to you because you are in high school, and the whole point of high school is to say all of the idiotic things you want to say before you grow up and gain some common sense. But, as teenagers, we need to be aware of boundaries and we need to know when enough is enough.

I’m sarcastic, and if you are an average teenager like me, I’m guessing you are as well. Sarcasm is the perfect way to break the ice in an awkward conversation or to release the tension in a silent room, but it can also be quite a hurtful quality. Jokes are all fun and games, until they become offensive and mean.

The hardest part about this situation is that different friends have different boundaries. For example, my fairly new friend might not feel comfortable enough to make as many jokes around me, compared to someone that I have been friends with for a long time.

But no matter how long you have been friends with someone, or how comfortable you feel around them, some jokes are just not acceptable to say. Jokes that point out insecurities and are offensive are never appropriate. How would you feel if someone was trying to joke around about your weight or that lazy eye you have been trying so hard to cover up for so long? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can still hurt. Next time you decide to say something stupid, take a second to think about what you are about to say, because if it doesn’t need to be said, don’t say it.