I'm well acquainted with that kind of humor, Pegs. I grew up with it as well, found it existed in the extended family and when I married to get out of the system, I found I had jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Some "pet" names were Wetback, Tub o' Lard, Crisco, Jelly Jar... because "jam don't shake like that." According to "him", it was hilarious because it showed that he "loved" me because otherwise he wouldn't tease me.

Very reminicent of Don Rickles. THAT is hurtful humor. In fact, I don't find it funny AT ALL. It's degrading and insulting!

EDIT: Even Jerry Lewis has been known to insult people in the audience. I saw him in person long ago. A small child was crying. Annoying, yes, but what Lewis did was awful! He told the mother to "stick a t*t in it's mouth and shut it up!" Of course, the crowd roared. I can imagine how that poor mother felt.