cause trauma, rather than teach a valuable lesson about gullibility, critical thinking, and being able to laugh at one's self.

Because it was already stated in the thread: parents shouldn't lie to their children to take advantage of their trust to teach them that trusting them leads to them set up for embarrassment and that they're an idiot. Idk how this isn't obvious but I guess beating kids was acceptable and reasonable too.

Emotional intelligence to differentiate

That's absurd, what's funny and light-hearted to one is usually at the expense of another (in this case), and sans reading their mind, you have no idea how they feel about your "just banter bro",, you're just assuming this because you have no ability to imagine that anyone at any time might feel differently to you and you're scared to confront that idea.

I'm not saying that harmless playful teasing is impossible or should be banned, but this doesn't really come off as that, and the experiences ITT don't either, especially with descriptions of such things as "hazing" which often also includes things that are without question just violent abuse/bullying.