Busting balls is a social skill?
Actually I find ball busting a form of art. I know a couple of people that are so good at it that they actually sense your comfort level - and maneuver right below the treshold.
This is the kind of people you call when your bored - take them out and beg them to mock you!
Actually I find ball busting a human form of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNvQ2AC23cg . It's what young males do to learn about social cause/effect. I find it less damaging to one's personality to what young girls do to each other.
I am not from the US. Your presumption about my gender is wrong.
I'm an extreme athlete - and I'm in a circle of "jocks" (most extreme athletes are like that), so I understand how this kind of "young male" groups work and what dynamics are involved.
It is very useful dealing with people who expect you to take friendly teasing, and it's even more useful to be able to turn it around and tease back (and is a sign of high status individuals in some of those).