The fall guy

Some people say that every group needs a ‘fall guy’. Someone to be the butt of the majority of the jokes.

I see this philosophy at work every now and then and I always sympathize with the ‘fall guy’.

I personally don’t condone this behavior and think groups should find alternative forms of communication but from observing it I think that the key for the fall guy’s survival is to not take it personally. Which can be a very tricky thing to do, as on the surface it looks like you’re the brunt of all the jokes but I think that when Greg mocks Gary, it says more about Greg than it does Gary.

I’m no psychologist but I bet mocking is based on some form of insecurity.

I think not taking it personally benefits both the group and the individual.

If the ‘fall guy’ takes it personally, it will be very upsetting and the whole group dynamic gets disrupted. Someone gets in trouble for bullying and everyone feels worse off for it.

I think it could help the ‘fall guy’ to view each mocking as a display of insecurity. An attempt to drag them down.

Finally I think the above will work but if you do see yourself as the ‘fall guy’ of the group then just find another group. Life’s too short to always be the ‘fall guy’.