Anybody heard of this strange phenomenon going on between men and women? Why is it that some people can't tell the difference between flirting/teasing and insulting the opposite sex?

Negative and disgusting IMO, the victim takes it because we all want to hear good stuff about ourselves...but the sub conscious takes on board the put downs..

Why on earth would you want to take down your partners self confidence is beyond me.

Yes this is a basic tenet in PUA training, it is suppose to be a HVD; however it is a shame how things have devolved from negging to just insulting; much of the original teachings are distorted and miss understood

It's a part of game playing. There's books written about it.
You tear him/her down to boost yourself up in their eyes.
It's for pick up artists not for people looking for meaningful
relationships.

Hell I love abuse. Whip me, beat me and call me Trixie.

WOW,,that is sooo SAD!!

What is the difference between negging and nagging?

a vowel

your so funny....

From where you come from, I wouldn't be surprised this phenomenon is happening...SORRY, but had to throw that out there

Negging demonstrate higher value; nagging demonstrates hopeless/helplessness

Because they are obsessed with having power over someone else.

there are a lot of subtleties and nuances in language that it's hard to tell sometimes.
if people have been more sheltered in some ways or for whatever reason are just not street smart, they might not know right away they were disrespected.
I can say I am one such persons that falls into this category. I even had to look it up to know what this topic is about.
the other thing is what Mikey referred to, people with low esteem want to hear anything that might sound positive.

Sounds like a SoCal hipster to me.

Apparently so.

I know for me I just have trouble handling other people's emotions or my own for that matter. Was always happy to work by myself because always wanted to run at the first sign of emotions. Maybe it is just a guy thing I used to think. But the more I observe my female helpers at work (Which I might add is probably a guy thing, too. lol) I am find myself getting into the hang of it. I haven't had to use the sign of the cross; Ask for holy water or Carry garlic at my job. I am learning how to go with the flow and just follow their lead. Of course, it really works both ways because they help me when I get too emotional, too. I get less and less of, "Geez, I am just teasing. Don't take everything so seriously." Like when one of them working with someone points out to them that I am just a guy and what do I know. Divide and conquer really works at times. My boss even told me when really dealing with a hard case with a guy instead of a gal which is usually the case, "If he intimidates you then just intimidate him back." Good advice because even though he was really pissed he did respond in a volatile but successful way. You can teach an old dog new tricks. It is always funny when I can deal with a person they have troubling with, too at times. It is like how did you do that. And of course, I don't have a clue. I would have to agree though that sometimes there is a fine line between negging and nagging, too.

Negging, as it is called, is in essence a trick. The idea is to undermine a woman's confidence by making backhanded or snide remarks – give a compliment with one hand, and take away with the other. It is about control, putting the man in charge of the interaction by pushing the woman to earn his approval.

This is what narcissists do, and believe me, there are an awful lot of them out there!
The thing is, these c***s can do this stuff so subtly, that at first you're not even aware of it happening. And because they do it so subtly, they can easily deny they did it, tell you you're seeing things that aren't there, don't trust them etc. and above all: you've hurt them -> "how dare you think I'd do something like that!! I thought you loved me?! Strange way of loving someone!!"

By the time you realise something is really not right, you've been made dependent and have become so insecure, that you won't or can't stand your ground anymore. Happens to a great many women.

It's something that men just do to women, is it? Really? I don't think so Crystal.

I doubt people do this deliberately. I think what happens is that men take things for granted and get complacent and say insensitive things. Then they realize it and try to make up for it.

I think so too for most of the time or the persons that do it are really insecure in general.
And it can go both ways...I've seen a girl joking about her boyfriend and she didn't see that he seriously stopped laughing/smiling and she made all us guests feel a little awkward.
That was a year ago and they are still together...and she keeps on doing it...with him.

So maybe he likes it (unconsciously)?

idk, I personally think it's unhealthy (for both) and I like to keep things balanced.

But then some need to exist by putting others down and some exist through their suffering.

So as it is all subjective, best is to let the other know where you are at...he,he...

I was told just recently, that I am no fun to insult.
She said I never take it seriously.
Guess I'm lucky that way.