Only Mock Love or Envy

What if, once upon a time, someone said,  "They only make fun of the ones they like." But the reason that someone said it was to prevent bullying and mocking? Granted, the method there being that if "they" made fun of someone, others would then mock "them" for liking the undesirable one.

But, not wanting to be unable to belittle, "they" changed it to mean that people should consider mocking, bullying, and being made fun of to be a compliment? Which, of course, it isn't. But then there was a chance that "they" could still have breeding options and be uncivilized. "But I only really do it because I love or envy the object of my ridicule. That's what they say, right?"