I have heard the term "banter" used to excuse the use of the word
'Muslim' and 'Gay" used as a pejorative word.
The excuse is the same but what banter does is simply reductionist and narrow.
We are use banter and we should all struggle with it. It tells us about our own assumptions and limitations.if we can reduce others to a few basic words we diminish them. When we say they are only animals then we open the road to the gas chambers. I reflect on my own use of banter . Years ago I wince in shame and in years to come I will do the same to what I use now. We are all on a path of challenging ourselves and others. Banter is never neutral and always oppressive. It lessens the complexity of our identities and reduces us. The term "remoaner" is a perfect example often used by the right. However I often use the term 'kipper or ' bluekippers' in similar ways . I excuse myself for doing it and to some extent it has a grain of truth in its reductionism Yet it is poor in its value.
The challenge is that we are all ever becoming ; becoming ever more self aware and learning to know ourselves evermore fully. Teasing our lovers and our close friends is acceptable in relationships of equals. Yet the use of excuses such as 'it was just banter " is no excuse for an MP or an equality spokesperson in particular. So it's no excuse Caroline Harris.
The irony is that Jac o the North is even more guilty of banter than you are. He is very fond of raving about ' wimmin, greenies and lefties. His mocking of the late Trans activist Lily Jane Summers was shock g and prejudicial. Like many of the old broflakes of his party his banter has nothing to do with liberation or empowerment.Rather it's about reductionism And the settling of scores with a traditional conservative aspect of old Welsh Labour. So Caroline your banter empowers those who are narrow and have another agenda. There never is or will be a category of 'just banter' ...wake up Caroline Harris and smell the coffee..
The usual suspects will say that iYam guilty of political correctness. However this too is term of `banter` designed to prevent debate on the self and the to allow projection onto the other. . banter is a defence sytem that seeks to avoild challenge or change.
The excuse is the same but what banter does is simply reductionist and narrow.
We are use banter and we should all struggle with it. It tells us about our own assumptions and limitations.if we can reduce others to a few basic words we diminish them. When we say they are only animals then we open the road to the gas chambers. I reflect on my own use of banter . Years ago I wince in shame and in years to come I will do the same to what I use now. We are all on a path of challenging ourselves and others. Banter is never neutral and always oppressive. It lessens the complexity of our identities and reduces us. The term "remoaner" is a perfect example often used by the right. However I often use the term 'kipper or ' bluekippers' in similar ways . I excuse myself for doing it and to some extent it has a grain of truth in its reductionism Yet it is poor in its value.
The challenge is that we are all ever becoming ; becoming ever more self aware and learning to know ourselves evermore fully. Teasing our lovers and our close friends is acceptable in relationships of equals. Yet the use of excuses such as 'it was just banter " is no excuse for an MP or an equality spokesperson in particular. So it's no excuse Caroline Harris.
The irony is that Jac o the North is even more guilty of banter than you are. He is very fond of raving about ' wimmin, greenies and lefties. His mocking of the late Trans activist Lily Jane Summers was shock g and prejudicial. Like many of the old broflakes of his party his banter has nothing to do with liberation or empowerment.Rather it's about reductionism And the settling of scores with a traditional conservative aspect of old Welsh Labour. So Caroline your banter empowers those who are narrow and have another agenda. There never is or will be a category of 'just banter' ...wake up Caroline Harris and smell the coffee..
The usual suspects will say that iYam guilty of political correctness. However this too is term of `banter` designed to prevent debate on the self and the to allow projection onto the other. . banter is a defence sytem that seeks to avoild challenge or change.
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