[AccyJay]

I once played pool with a guy who only had one leg & get around in a wheelchair. I'd never met him before, but, we were both in the pub at the same time & he asked me if i fancied a game. During the first game, he did nothing but barrack, mock & generally take the pee. All of it was light hearted banter, & he subsequently went on to win the game. In the re-match, he continued with the banter. At one point during the game he had a difficult shot to take. Due the shot difficulty he had to hoist himself out of the chair & sit on the edge of the table. My reaction was to remind him (jokingly) of the rules, & that he had to have one foot on the floor whilst taking the shot. The pub went silent after i made this comment, but the guy burst out laughing & took his shot. After the game he shook my hand & offered to buy me a drink stating that it was the first time that a stranger had treated him no different to anybody else.

My point is that he was prepared to poke fun at me, so i did it back like i always do. He didn't take offence, & i definately didn't get the impression that he was only doing it as a defence mechinism.

We're all individuals with differing thoughts & feelings.