how can you tell difference between someone laughing with you and someone laughing at you?

If they're talking about the subject of the humor--the joke itself, be it one of Britney's pink wigs or not--then most likely they are laughing *with* you.

If they're talking about you, directly, or making efforts *not to* that are clear and obvious, then yeah, it's likely they're laughing at you.

Not that there's much difference for some folks--for some people once they start laughing they will laugh and wisecrack about *anything*, because they're in a mood and *hope* others know that.

But yeah, unless it's clear folks are talking about you, or that they're trying to avoid that--like, as in avoiding eye contact, or distancing themselves from you--you can assume they're laughing with you and go with the flow. Like what the previous answerer said, if that's not the case, you still look like the more mature person and come out on top most of the time.

At least so long as you're an adult, with other adults. If you're in high school among other teenagers, this also might be reversed and you might be concerned with "looking like a chump". I'm not sure what, aside from leaving the situation if possible, you could do in that case.

Hope this helps though. ^__^

It doesn't really matter, if they are laughing at you, they are seeking judgement upon themselves. Just laugh along and assume they are laughing with you, you will be the mature one if they aren't.

if you are not laughing, I would say that is a problem

if they are pointing AT you they aren't laughing WITH you...

lol vs lulz