by: Tanya Chang and Lila Zamansky

Sports Editor and Media Editor

Most friendships are built on trust and guidance. Of course, that excludes Tanya Chang and Lila Zamansky. Their friendship is solely based on ragebaiting, or more accurately, Tanya relentlessly ragebaiting Lila. Ragabiting isn’t just about testing one’s anger; it’s a form of art, and Tanya happens to be the master of it.

I’m Tanya, and sarcasm is my middle name. Getting on people’s nerves is something I specialize in. I’m especially passionate about committing so hard to misinformation that the other person not only starts to doubt themselves but also reality. Now, don’t be mistaken, I don’t insult anyone; I just simply state things incorrectly with absolute confidence and wait until that timer hits zero. Watching the confusion, disbelief, and frustration build is peak entertainment. Dare I say it’s better than watching someone do a TikTok with no audio. Unfortunately for Lila, she is the easiest target.

Hello. I’m Lila, and alas, I’m the victim. I would like to start by saying that I’m not an easily irritated person, even when Tanya says I’m chronically overstimulated. Don’t trust what she says. I’m someone who has fallen victim to Tanya’s habit of spreading fake news with extreme confidence. She will say something so blatantly wrong, and stare me dead in the eyes, and as I start to experience all five stages of grief. 

Let me explain the rage-baiting process. It usually starts small. I will ask an innocent question, something practical, simple, right? No. Tanya has the audacity to pause, look at me, and give an answer that feels wrong but sounds official. In that specific moment, I can feel my blood boiling. What makes this worse is that I’m fully aware I’m being ragebaited. I will actively think, this cannot be true, while simultaneously reacting as if it is true. Tanya doesn’t need to escalate. I do that part myself. And just when I reach my breaking point, she reveals the truth like it was all a harmless joke. I would like to say I learn from this. I don’t. Tanya doesn’t even push it; she just lets me sit there, marinating in confusion, until I inevitably crash out.

Tanya again, and I have got to share my proudest moment. On a random Thursday, Lila needed help turning on her MacBook. I took her laptop, stared at it for a good thirty seconds, and said, “You can’t.” This was, obviously, a total lie. “Yeah, it’s just not possible,” I followed up, keeping up the act. She froze. “WHAT?” she said, already spiraling. She was visibly overwhelmed, panicking over something that was completely fixable, and in my head, classical music was playing while watching her break down. Since I’m a good friend, I took the laptop back, fixed it in two seconds, and handed it to her. She was furious. I thought it was hilarious.

All jokes aside, Tanya and Lila are very good friends. Yes, it may seem as though they have an agitating hatred for each other but they still like each other. For the most part.