"FOR INSTANCE.... if I were to call Backwoodsman a 'Baldy Bastard' at the Folk Club..."

Fine - but that's a bit of banter between you two. If you were to call Backwoodsman "Baldy Bastard" whenever you saw him, all the time and described his entire family as "Baldy Bastards" and anyone of his race as "Baldy Bastards" until an accepted term amongst your race for Backwoodsman and his people was "Baldy Bastards", and then sat at home one night some over-privileged whelp unbeknownst to you films you and it's broadcast on the news with the commentary "Ah, there's our Baldy Bastard friend Backwoodsman . . ." I'm guessing the ability to brush it off as a harmless josh would soon wear thin with him, his family and everyone he knows.