Banter

Many current or ex servicing personnel will say that banter was born on the forces and plays a part in the moral of a unit. But should it be used? I personnel think not!

Banter for the past few years I have noticed, has been a common term used when a joke is made about particular person or groups of people. In the air cadets banter is very much used, even my friends out side of cadets use it on a regular basis between each other (many occasions it gets out of hand).

Unfortunately over the past few years I have noticed that banter has started being used as a escape goat for bullying and vial jokes! And personally believe it's better off not having these jokes because on many occasions people tend to cross the line or let it get out of hand. At this point banter becomes bullying or racism or homophobia or something else.

As many of you know bullying of any kind is not tolerated in the corps. So your best off not having a bit of banter with your fellow cadets just incase it hurts someone's feelings.

Recently I became a target of banter and it did cross the line. I personally now can't be bothered, I don't find it fun any more. Some times banter over social media can get easily out of hand because people are more confident in making comments that they wouldn't say in person and you can't see the persons on the receiving ends reaction so take it even further.

If you do have a bit of banter just remember before you make a comment is the joke your about to say going to hurt someone? If that's a yes don't make the comment. And try and keep banter off social media!