Pub regulars will often start an argument about anything, just for the fun of it. The exchange may continue in this fashion for some time, although the attacks and counter-attacks will often drift away from the original issue, moving on to other contentious subjects and eventually focusing almost entirely on the personal qualities of the participants. You may notice, however, that opponents continue to buy each other drinks throughout the slanging match. By the end, everyone may have forgotten what the argument was supposed to be about. When participants become bored or tired, the accepted formula for terminating the argument is to finish a sentence with and anyway, it s your round .
Opponents remain the best of mates, and a good time has been had by all.
Even at the bar counter, watch for the open body-language which signals that others are welcome to participate. Involvement of the bar staff or publican is another sign that the argument is public rather than personal. Body-language and facial expressions are also your best guide to the level of seriousness of the dispute. Heated and even insulting words may be used, but in most pub-arguments the relaxed posture and expressions of the participants reveal the lack of any real hostility. Once you have established that the argument is both public and non-hostile, feel free to add your comments and opinions but remember that this is a game, and do not expect to be taken seriously.