How to deal with annoying idiots
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Of course, it is natural to want to annoy idiots; we all have those urges. It is when we are in conflict with the idiot within ourselves that those urges become an intolerable experience to the self, resulting in night-sweats, tremors, visions of flashing-lights, terrible dreams, and the other symptoms you describe. The answer lies not in suppressing those urges, or acting them out (which leads to shame and guilt), but getting in touch with your own inner idiot. Think of your inner idiot as being like a small dog with one eye. Now close, or blind-fold, one eye, and spend 24 hours like that. You see ? Take warm food out of a can and put it on the floor: eat it without using your hands. You see ? Read an entire novel backwards (out loud), translating into idiotic, while one foot is in hot water, and the other foot is in cold water. If you are not fluent in idiotic, pick a novel like "Finnegan's Wake." Improvise: as you learn to communicate with your inner idiot, you will find your own unique ways to enjoy their presence, and bring the urges to annoy idiots outside yourself to heel.
“Use the word 'cybernetics,' Norbert, because nobody knows what it means. This will always put you at an advantage in arguments.” Claude Shannon (Information Theory scientist): letter to Norbert Weiner of M.I.T., circa 1940
BillWoodruff wrote:
bring the urges to annoy idiots outside yourself to heel.
Where's the fun in that?:confused:
Will Rogers never met me.
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Bah! [waves hand dismissively]
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
"Bah" is good: it is a first step, no matter how tentative, and off-balance, towards contact with your inner idiot. An unfettering of his voice so long stifled by denial. Prithee, do not be discouraged by the task that lies ahead of you: it can be a life's work to tame the inner idiot. And, what better place to nurture the inner idiot back from neurogenic catalepsy in the unconscious to vividly vicious expression than ... The Lounge ! cheers, Bill
“Use the word 'cybernetics,' Norbert, because nobody knows what it means. This will always put you at an advantage in arguments.” Claude Shannon (Information Theory scientist): letter to Norbert Weiner of M.I.T., circa 1940
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I have recently been in a discussion with an annoying fanatic here in the lounge after coming to the defence of another member decrying the idiot position of said fanatic. Said fanatic is clearly arguing for the sake of it since their position is unsupportable ("Metro is wonderful and better than anything else that ever existed on any version of Window before") and I got fed up of answering his pointless points to the point where I went back and deleted all my messages. Now they show as "Message Removed" and it occurs to me that that seems like I was flinging abuse or something (while actually they were reasoned arguments) and does not look good. Perhaps we need a "Message Withdrawn" heading? Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to deal with annoying idiots in discussions - other than just ignoring them?
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
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I have recently been in a discussion with an annoying fanatic here in the lounge after coming to the defence of another member decrying the idiot position of said fanatic. Said fanatic is clearly arguing for the sake of it since their position is unsupportable ("Metro is wonderful and better than anything else that ever existed on any version of Window before") and I got fed up of answering his pointless points to the point where I went back and deleted all my messages. Now they show as "Message Removed" and it occurs to me that that seems like I was flinging abuse or something (while actually they were reasoned arguments) and does not look good. Perhaps we need a "Message Withdrawn" heading? Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to deal with annoying idiots in discussions - other than just ignoring them?
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
-
I have recently been in a discussion with an annoying fanatic here in the lounge after coming to the defence of another member decrying the idiot position of said fanatic. Said fanatic is clearly arguing for the sake of it since their position is unsupportable ("Metro is wonderful and better than anything else that ever existed on any version of Window before") and I got fed up of answering his pointless points to the point where I went back and deleted all my messages. Now they show as "Message Removed" and it occurs to me that that seems like I was flinging abuse or something (while actually they were reasoned arguments) and does not look good. Perhaps we need a "Message Withdrawn" heading? Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to deal with annoying idiots in discussions - other than just ignoring them?
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
Forogar wrote:
I have recently been in a discussion with an annoying fanatic here in the lounge after coming to the defence of another member decrying the idiot position of said fanatic.
One will find fanatics on both sides of the isle. Leave your comments so that people will see what you have said.
The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain
Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes -
"Bah" is good: it is a first step, no matter how tentative, and off-balance, towards contact with your inner idiot. An unfettering of his voice so long stifled by denial. Prithee, do not be discouraged by the task that lies ahead of you: it can be a life's work to tame the inner idiot. And, what better place to nurture the inner idiot back from neurogenic catalepsy in the unconscious to vividly vicious expression than ... The Lounge ! cheers, Bill
“Use the word 'cybernetics,' Norbert, because nobody knows what it means. This will always put you at an advantage in arguments.” Claude Shannon (Information Theory scientist): letter to Norbert Weiner of M.I.T., circa 1940
BillWoodruff wrote:
it can be a life's work to tame the inner idiot.
Easy for you to say whilst sitting on top of the mountain. :-D
The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain
Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes -
I have recently been in a discussion with an annoying fanatic here in the lounge after coming to the defence of another member decrying the idiot position of said fanatic. Said fanatic is clearly arguing for the sake of it since their position is unsupportable ("Metro is wonderful and better than anything else that ever existed on any version of Window before") and I got fed up of answering his pointless points to the point where I went back and deleted all my messages. Now they show as "Message Removed" and it occurs to me that that seems like I was flinging abuse or something (while actually they were reasoned arguments) and does not look good. Perhaps we need a "Message Withdrawn" heading? Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to deal with annoying idiots in discussions - other than just ignoring them?
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.
I find offbeat responses to idiotic or abusive posts to have interesting effects, often ending the troll's participation. E.g.: Troll: "All you Creighton basketball fans are a bunch of idiots. You [expletive ending in 'ing'] deserve that [expletive] humiliation you got." Me: "Don't mind [first name (preferrably) or handle of troll]. He woke up this morning with a tragic infestation of Lithuanian cumquat beetles, and hasn't been the same since. #YoudBeInABadMoodToo."
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Forogar wrote:
I have recently been in a discussion with an annoying fanatic here in the lounge after coming to the defence of another member decrying the idiot position of said fanatic.
One will find fanatics on both sides of the isle. Leave your comments so that people will see what you have said.
The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain
Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopesJimmyRopes wrote:
One will find fanatics on both sides of the isle.
The ones around here often straddle the middle.
“Use the word 'cybernetics,' Norbert, because nobody knows what it means. This will always put you at an advantage in arguments.” Claude Shannon (Information Theory scientist): letter to Norbert Weiner of M.I.T., circa 1940
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JimmyRopes wrote:
One will find fanatics on both sides of the isle.
The ones around here often straddle the middle.
“Use the word 'cybernetics,' Norbert, because nobody knows what it means. This will always put you at an advantage in arguments.” Claude Shannon (Information Theory scientist): letter to Norbert Weiner of M.I.T., circa 1940
BillWoodruff wrote:
The ones around here often straddle the middle.
I know what you mean. One day they will be arguing this and the next day that. They just like to debate but have no real conviction.
The report of my death was an exaggeration - Mark Twain
Simply Elegant Designs JimmyRopes Designs
I'm on-line therefore I am. JimmyRopes -
"Bah" is good: it is a first step, no matter how tentative, and off-balance, towards contact with your inner idiot. An unfettering of his voice so long stifled by denial. Prithee, do not be discouraged by the task that lies ahead of you: it can be a life's work to tame the inner idiot. And, what better place to nurture the inner idiot back from neurogenic catalepsy in the unconscious to vividly vicious expression than ... The Lounge ! cheers, Bill
“Use the word 'cybernetics,' Norbert, because nobody knows what it means. This will always put you at an advantage in arguments.” Claude Shannon (Information Theory scientist): letter to Norbert Weiner of M.I.T., circa 1940
Quote:
Prithee
It is a long time since I heard anyone use that word in a conversation. In fact, thinking about it, it was probably me that used it! It is now my word of the week and I shall use it at every opportunity. Prithee tell if you have any objection too this.
- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.