No, no, no, you've got it all wrong, Andrew. It's not at all like "treating people like shit". There's a culture gap here. A difference in opinion as to what constitutes humour.

Never played badminton. It's a load of shuttlecocks.

I thought 'banter' is what a horse with a bad leg does (making its way to the glue factory).

LOL. Here you are:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/banter

That'll be 'falter', no?

Of course, if my horse were to kid with me in a witty manner
I'd consider taking it to the knackers.

@ brianL - help, I don't understand political correctness ("PC") can you break it down into words of no more than two syllables for me? Is it anything like [BS] backspace? From one Englishman to another, I see nothing political about it, unless it relates to more and more legislation and regulation applied upon us poor unsuspecting citizens, by the gubmint and the EU Commissioners, who think that we should think like they think.

Which reminds me that I must investigate changing my religion to Jedi so that I can wear a hoodie and shades, so that I can keep my identity safe from anyone who wants to charge me a Windows tax.

I think they are being dragged at that point.

Hmmm, dragged by other able-bodied horses? Memories of Soylent Green coming to mind..

I think political-correctness must have been invented in Oklahoma (I got the urge to burst into song when typing that).

That's what I love about the English, everything sounds so vulgar, and then when you are being vulgar it sounds like you are doing a Dr. Seuse medley. It's fantastic!

And yes, I had to look that up.

lets continue with the badinage and persiflage forthwith. Hey leopard you can start.

They're all looking up badinage and persiflage in dictionaries before they reply.

And we've all learned what so many before us already knew: nothing kills persiflage like badinage.....

Percy Flage? Is he a member of LQ?

No, his first visit led him here. He didn't register. For obvious reasons.