Recently I've been going down to the same Pub pretty much every weekend, Although this weekend I only went once (due to a lack of money and interest).
Its a rather strange little pub that contains a Bar (obviously), a table football table, a Sofa, a Dj area and an ambitously named "Bear Garden".
Ive only utilised the Sofas however for inside drinking, and the Bear Garden for outside drinking and smoking (smoking ban & all)
Groups of usually 8 of us go, who are a mixture of friends from various places around the county I live in, and they all are on different levels of friendship with me. Needless to say The Banter is ongoing as usually the ratio of boys to girls in this random group is usually Boy dominant, and being a member of this group of usually 8 I must suffer this socail construct.
The banter could be considered a subtle, yet blatant way to find a chink in ones armour as reacting to it is contrary to good, laughing it off can attract a different form of negative attention however that I can't explain.
Striking back with witty comments is effective but usually is a short term solution as it can extend the argument and after a few drinks things can turn hostile.
The best answer I've found is not to bring up the banter so not to be entered into it, but when the banter comes your way just smile, look at the ground and mutter just loud enough "Bastard"
This provides comical element for the group that you can join in showing you can take a joke, but also flattering the banter-ers ability to create a joke, therefore creating a situation where everyone is laughing at the situation rather than you, meaning you can laugh too.
Its easily pulled off after a few drinks and a ciggerette or two, although It has occured to me that Smoking socaily may soon have many negatives, at the moment however I only do it because it relaxs me and I feel fairly complacent doing it, giving my hands something to do when everyone is sitting there.
The nights at the pub themselves are mainly hit or miss, and its iffy whether I have enough money to have a decent night out meaning sometimes I have to rely on handouts from friends, they do serve as a distraction to being at home bored, although If anything I was generally interested in came up I would avoid it like the plague.
Maybe I'm being harsh, thier tolerant enough to hang around me after all, and I have had a few very good nights down thier when live bands where in and we were all drunk enough to dance and sing the songs we knew. Viv' la empathy. (whatever that means)
'Not saying it was your fault, although you could've done more'
Until next time, the banter must go on.
P.S This is a picture of the beer garden and two of the 8 sitting on what I now call the 'Banter' table outside this pub.
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