Utter the word friend in the presence of an Inbetweeners fan and your life will be made a living hell, and all because of hapless Jays camaraderie with a twenty-something neighbour who takes the young stalwart under his wing. When asked by his friends who the guy is, Jay makes the immortal mistake of calling him a friend, leading to abuse that doesn't let up for two terms. What's wrong with calling someone a friend? Oh come on, it is a bit lame. 'Mate' would be fine; maybe even 'buddy'. But friend? That's what your mum calls her hairdresser. It's what your Gran calls the meals-on-wheels man. On a serious note, such cruel and incessant mockery (note: 'friend' must always be said in a high pitched voice and accompanied by a double thumbs up) says something about the macho standards that young men are expected to adhere to in a patriarchal society built on false values. So, let's sack off this trope and all be...friends? Ooh, WhatCulture friends. Don't forget the thumbs up.
