Banter

Jack Mason, London

Banter: a word that no millennial can escape. But what does it actually mean? It is a word so often used (by its perpetrators at least) as a synonym for ‘humor’ or as justification for a put-down joke, that we’ve lost sight of the underlying acts the word glosses over. There is nothing funny about behavior which is sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, or racist. Using ‘banter’ to legitimize such behaviour is laughable in its own right. One of the truest definitions of ‘banter’ I could find is ‘conversation that is witty and at the same time abusive’. Let’s be clear: there is nothing witty about abuse.

Humor is to be encouraged, but people should be aware of, and act receptively to, the sometimes fragile sensibilities of those around them. Calling something ‘banter’ is not a remedy for inappropriate behavior. Such behavior is of marked importance in a workplace, not least because of the risk to one’s own professional reputation, but also because colleagues deserve to feel comfortable and accepted for who they are.

I have personally suffered several instances of ‘ganter’ (gay banter). Most of the time it’s funny and I can crack a smile, but sometimes it can cross a line. It can often make you feel acutely aware of how you are unquestionably and unchangeably different. Campaigns like Stonewall’s ‘No Bystanders’, which we support as a practice in London, are so important. The systematic removal of workplace banter that belittles and upsets people can only be achieved if employees have the ability to call out ‘bad banter’. So, next time you crack a joke at someone else’s expense, or see someone else doing the same, try not to just hear it. Stop it.