When is teasing too much?

Just doing some late night thinking tonight reflecting on some things that I have noticed recently and figured I'd write some thoughts down to get it out of my head for a bit.

In high school I was teased alot. I was awkward and not very confident so many times I was teased. It hurt. It was painful. I cried alot and was depressed. I missed out on alot of fun times because of it. I look back on my high school years and don't want to go back for that reason alone. I look back at those times and realize that helped to make me the person I am today. Then I look around and see this happening everyday when adults who know better do this every day. They tease and pick on people's weaknesses by calling them nicknames, like shorty, fatty, brat and others "all in good fun". I'll admit I have been known to do this from time to time and have been reflecting a bit on what real purpose this does serve. If it is to show love then why not come out and show some compassion and lift them up rather than bring them down. The youth today have so many more pressures placed upon them and have so few positive role models and then they look at some of their leaders around them putting each other down? Again, what purpose does this serve

I remember one time when we were teasing my niece about something and she started to get upset. We told her that we were just teasing her and that everyone does it from time to time. She asked why. I didn't have a good answer. Because I love you? Not exactly the way to show it. That tore me up that something I said could have hurt her.

My hope and prayer for myself is to show more love and compassion without having to put anyone down and that others around me can do the same. Or give me a good reason why...