In the last few years, we have been hit with a word which
seems to hold the power to justify what quite honestly can only be described as
being unkind…
Banter.
Banter.
Now, I enjoy banter as much as the next student, but the
line between what is acceptable and what is not has become far too fuzzy.
Ideally, banter should be a conversation which uses intelligence in a playful manner. It is synonymous with ‘josh’, ‘tease’ and ‘raillery’. It is not synonymous with ‘make cry’, ‘cause to enter a period of impenetrable depression’ or ‘play the blood violin’.
Banter is being used to justify behaviour which is simply socially inappropriate. If you offend me, telling me it’s 'just banter' is not going to make me feel okay again. There is nothing ‘banteriffic’ about being rude. You never joke that a fat person is fat or that a girl covered in foundation and bronzer is orange (unless you’re Shaun Beale). So, just be careful.
The Bantersaurus Rex became extinct a loooong time ago, and I think it’s about time we start being nice again.
Harriet Baker
Ideally, banter should be a conversation which uses intelligence in a playful manner. It is synonymous with ‘josh’, ‘tease’ and ‘raillery’. It is not synonymous with ‘make cry’, ‘cause to enter a period of impenetrable depression’ or ‘play the blood violin’.
Banter is being used to justify behaviour which is simply socially inappropriate. If you offend me, telling me it’s 'just banter' is not going to make me feel okay again. There is nothing ‘banteriffic’ about being rude. You never joke that a fat person is fat or that a girl covered in foundation and bronzer is orange (unless you’re Shaun Beale). So, just be careful.
The Bantersaurus Rex became extinct a loooong time ago, and I think it’s about time we start being nice again.
Harriet Baker
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