‘It’s just banter.’
The annoying phrase that is often used to excuse a myriad of poor behaviour.
But if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of ‘negging’, you’ll know that it’s so much more than a harmless joke.
Negging is a ‘technique’ coined by so-called pick-up artists, as a way to get women into bed.
It’s the act of deliberately using an insult or backhanded compliment to undermine someone’s confidence and increase their need for approval.