We’ll have to agree to disagree then.
Context and the relationships of those involved are critical, but I’ve seen ‘friendly’ slaps many times and the always turn out badly for everyone.
My father (a bully) always thought it was hilarious to give out friendly slaps, and worse. It wasn’t, it was always the act of a bully trying to place himself as the big man. And it never worked out. And of course if anyone tried to do the same to him, that was always a disaster too.
The last time I saw something like this, it was in a work environment a few years ago. Someone (a woman actually, and also a bully) gave a friendly slap to a junior member of the team. Turned out there were others, and led to two years of complaints and misery where I work.
Even on the Undr The Cosh podcast, who like a bit of top bants, with hindsight admit that this behaviour is not on and you don’t know what other people’s mental health is or how they are taking it.
This behaviour never helps, is never a laugh and nearly always makes a situation worse, in my experience.
If it happened as reported, looks like it’s worked out really well for all those involved doesn’t it?
The only exception for this is the ‘I CANT BELIEVE YOUVE DONE THIS’ meme.