Why do people banter?

[Waryth]

Do you banter like the rest or you don't, just like I do?

Before you all call me a sensitive millennial, let me get this straight:
I can take up a banter especially from a friend or a colleague.

Why do you people banter, for what purpose?
A mockery of a friend for the sake of fun? for show? to appear as an alpha to the group?

I'm not fond of it due to these following reasons:

1. I find it annoying
   
2. Its redundant
   
3. not meaningful, something else can be done
   
4. provocative

Now the thing is I can always think of a savage reply if I get to that point where there's no point of return as my counter-banter. It doesn't have to go that far if no banter exist to begin with.

just who are you to be considered as a friend when all you do is banter all day whenever you're around? We're going with the definition of a friend and bantering doesn't go with it and for colleagues its about giving that impression of being an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[Goose]

My friends at work & I constantly talk ♥♥♥♥ on each other, because it's funny & helps pass the time

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Lil' Beep:

My friends at work & I constantly talk ♥♥♥♥ on each other, because it's funny & helps pass the time

Same here.

Doing that helps bond us closer to one another. It's mainly in good fun. There can be exceptions but we all know what happens then...

[Cassidy]

My bros and I trashtalk each other all the time. They call me a ♥♥♥♥♥ in various different ways, and I call them gay in various different ways. We all know it's not personal, we're just taking the piss out of one another.

Like the one time one of us failed at cooking rice and we kept reminding him of it anytime he wants to argue a point.

[Tony Twist's Thunderous Right]

So....bantering bad now?

[SMIFFY]

Too many people are bad at banter because they completely lack wit. These are the worst kind of people, they're dullards and are best avoided.

[Jonathan Sensei]

Due to the nature of my job, knowing how to banter with others is an unofficial (but very important) requirement to do my job. The funny thing is, I can banter with my co-workers real good. My friends? I'm much more tight lipped - I don't like messing with my friends - I get worried that I might overdue it.

[AWAWA Liz]

I must be a weird alien because I don't find bantering funny at all and if it's towards me I automatically find it hurtful.

[Down The Drain]

It's fun. Also good practice for coming up with jokes in the moment (which isn't necessarily useful but w/e).

[Azza ☠]

Friends and gamers (mostly young males) will enter a 'friendly banter' with each other as it's a hormonal "faked" alpha male thing. Most are nervous and intimidated in social situations or proving their skills in gaming. Banter allows us to break down these negative emotions with playfulness. It's meant to lighten the mood while still expressing yourself.

[Polverrati]

Me and my friends banter all the time, we find it funny and it's not seen as negative to us.
If we only did things based on whether it's redundant or meaningful, life would be boring as hell.

[Waryth]

Originally posted by Corthmic:

If we only did things based on whether it's redundant or meaningful, life would be boring as hell.

Okay this statement of yours hits me a lot.

If so then how can your relation be progressive when it all revolves throwing back and forth of a "friendly argument" thing. Its not like you're being paid to be a comedian to pull off a show.

Originally posted by Uncle Rico's Sweet 'stache:

So....bantering bad now?

Main reason would be timing. If you weren't in the mood for it then like having a bad day, you either drop it and be a busta/killjoy to your circles or be forced to do it and may escalate things from there.

Originally posted by Lil' Beep:

constantly talk ♥♥♥♥ on each other

Originally posted by Aiacos:

My bros and I trashtalk each other all the time.

Originally posted by Corthmic:

Me and my friends banter all the time

Keyword here: all the time, constantly

Originally posted by l1z4rdbr34th:

I must be a weird alien because I don't find bantering funny at all and if it's towards me I automatically find it hurtful.

It sure is especially when life is rough..

Originally posted by SMIFFY:

Too many people are bad at banter because they completely lack wit. These are the worst kind of people, they're dullards and are best avoided.

I agree with this statement 100%.

I have doubts whether these friends you banter with will help you in life and death situations because they ain't taking life serious as it is. You hear this drama a lot when people make regrets with "Oh, I thought you were my friend? How could you do this to me." yada yada. Its not like bantering makes your friendship deep enough to know one another.

[Down The Drain]

Originally posted by Waryth:

Originally posted by Corthmic:

If we only did things based on whether it's redundant or meaningful, life would be boring as hell.

Okay this statement of yours hits me a lot.

If so then how can your relation be progressive when it all revolves throwing back and forth of a "friendly argument" thing. Its not like you're being paid to be a comedian to pull off a show.

he didn't say his relationship with his friends all revolves around banter

and so what if they aren't paid lmao, they just enjoy it

[s w e k]

It's fun.

[ʙᴜɴ.ᴇ]

I've tried to banter in games with people before but they take me too seriously and think im a jerk or troll, I don't do it anymore since people can't tell if I am teasing them or not.

[/.]

People banter because (most) people are social. It's a conversational skill that can kill time and maybe even get some laughs, assuming the people involved are good sports and aren't too insecure. I don't view it as anything to do with "show" or wanting to be an alpha. People that even contemplate "appearing alpha" as a motive to begin with are usually pretty dim. It's just all in good fun.