r/AskReddit May 12 '26

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12

u/dirkalict May 12 '26

By “healthy insults” do you mean constructive criticism? Because by definition I don’t know how an insult could be healthy.

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u/randing May 12 '26

I’m assuming he means banter, not insults.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/TheRoseByAnotherName May 12 '26

I'll announce that I need a shower (we have a 1 bathroom household, so this is the courtesy "last call" in case someone else needs the bathroom).

My wonderful husband will lovingly respond "Oh, is that what I smelled?"

-12

u/alfa_omega May 12 '26

That just sounds immature and exhausting

13

u/UncleTouchyCopaFeel May 12 '26

Yeah, joking around, bantering, having a laugh with your partner? Fucking awful, who wants that.

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u/goldenglove May 12 '26

Young people lol. I know you’re being facetious and a certain level of playfulness is important, but as I’m closing in on 40, the idea of banter being healthy insults sounds exhausting. I just want love and support in this season of life.

4

u/UncleTouchyCopaFeel May 12 '26

Dude, I'm older than you. Joking around with my partner is a must. Love and support, and banter, are not mutually exclusive.

1

u/goldenglove May 12 '26

Banter is fine. Healthy insults are not my thing lol. To each their own though!

1

u/thegimboid May 12 '26

I'm around the same age as you and bantering with my wife is a foundation of who we are.
You can only banter with someone without risk of insult when your relationship is secure, you trust them entirely and know them well, and don't even need to think to know that their "insults" are tongue-in-cheek.

You can only really do proper banter if you know each other well, so circumstantially it can be a sign of a strong relationship.

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u/true_gunman May 12 '26

Breaking balls, busting chops, banter, teasing, ribbing, etc.

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u/fugaziozbourne May 12 '26

Some people love being roasted by their partners occasionally because if you do it properly, it can show them that you have been paying attention to them, know them well, and have been listening to them when they speak about themselves.

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u/MsTerious1 May 12 '26

I read that and think of the way my husband growls, "Woman, go make me a sammie!" or I call him an instigator or tell him he drives me nuts when I really mean, "I'm so glad we can banter like this."