For years, I’ve jokingly referred to myself as a Conejo Feo. For the non Spanish speakers, it translates to Ugly Rabbit. There’s no specific cause for it to come out of my mouth. It’s purely random, and truth be told, my lovely wife thinks it’s just self-deprecation. I beg to disagree, though, and I’ll tell you why.
From an early age, I had to learn to laugh at myself. This was necessitated because of my last name, which amazingly rhymes with Turkey and can be hilarliously modified to Jerky. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t bullied because of it, just annoyingly called out. For this reason, I didn’t foster any of the deep seated anger at the world which seems to be so common today. I thankfully realized that if I referred to myself in the same amazing and hilarious variations, it took the steam out of those who sought to bother me.
I know. This wasn’t my bright idea. It’s something many parents have told their kids for ages. Unfortunately, it seems like today, less parents are telling their kids how to use this effective tactic. I’m not saying it’s okay to let other kids make fun of others. It’s not. It’s hurtful to people and dangerous to their self-esteem. Well, it is unless you refuse to let it. (Note: This does not include physical bullying, which obviously has much more serious effects on the targeted person.)
Between my childhood years as Beef Jerky and into my middle age as a self-proclaimed Conejo Feo, I’ve learned that being able to make fun of yourself is an invaluable tool. We know that sadly, bullyish kids often grow to be bullyish adults. Some are immature ones who just seek to annoy or undermine your confidence, while others are people in positions of authority who seek to intimidate you. You likely work with at least one. Just as when they were kids, though, it’s only fun for them if they get the desired reaction. If, on the other hand, you one-up their attempt by cracking a better joke about yourself that illicits bigger laughs from those around you, their self-inflated balloon is popped. Alternatively, it’s also very amusing when in a group setting to ask the verbal assailant to repeat what they said, as if you didn’t understand what they said. The reaction is priceless.
Now, perhaps you’ll understand and agree that being a Conejo Feo is a truly emboldening identity. If you don’t understand and disagree, that’s cool. I just hope you have your own tactic to make it through today’s increasingly mean society. As for me, I’ll keep calling myself a Conejo Feo and calling my kids Beef Jerkies.