If someone said that to me, and I didn’t want a favor from them, or they were English, I’d say, “I will take a blowtorch to your trachea and fuck the blood hole, you say that again.” What’s wrong with you people???
ETA I forgot the Japanese. No offense!
I suppose you could explain that the thing that sets humanity apart from other animals is that we believe in woo.
Oh, wait a minute . . .
“Really? I’ve always heard they were a bad omen and meant that evil spirits were following you to kill you and steal your soul when you die. But hey, they’re probably just the camera flash reflecting off particles in the air, right? Anyway, good luck on the interview. Be sure to ask them about their insurance benefits.”
“I’m just trying to help you not sound like an idiot or a lunatic in educated company.”
Doesn’t anybody just say, ‘fuck you,’ anymore?
The girl isn’t saying the orbs are anything other than they are. She’s saying they’re lucky for her.
There’s really no argument for that, since you can’t prove they AREN’T.
Somebody owes me a new keyboard. I just spit all over it, going back over the thread. Apparently it works still, the keyboard. Points to msmith537 for the wittiest thing I’ve seen today. Thanks!
ETA Style points to Jack Batty --good stuff. Actually, it’s a dead heat between you and the other guy – equally funny.
ETA hate that orb shit. People are fucking nuts – hell with them and their little ghost-lets or whatever that’s supposed to be.
The response you’re looking for, instead of questioning the woo woo, whatever it’s stripe, is a hearty, “Indeed!”
“I was abducted and probed!” “Indeed!”
“These orbs are a good sign!” “Indeed!”
“The dingo ate my baby!” “Indeed!”
There is hardly a statement which cannot reasonably be met with an “Indeed!”
Try it, often, wear it out, I promise, you will not be disappointed.
How about:
“The jerk store called and they’re running out of you!” ?
To which my response is “You must be their best customer if they call you just to let you know they’re running out of something”
Just take on a shocked look, say “Excuse me,” vomit on her, and then profusely apologize.
After a few iterations, say “I don’t think these orbs are lucky for me,” before you vomit on her.
It might take some time and a couple of dozen iterations, but there is a good chance that eventually she will stop touting orbs in your presence.
Unfortunately, this remedy is not without risk, for there is also a good chance that she will insist on your taking an echinacea enema while stroking a crystal pyramid.
Oh, yeah? Well I slept with your wife!
My wife’s dead – or a hippy, I can’t tell which. I closed the mind of your limp-cirumcised dick by putting a nice, hot candle right up against the tip, and if you talk to me about your mind – or mine – I will end the short, short life of your penis with the fire.
and Stink – my wife’s dead (not really, I wish), and I still slept with her. Better her than <Cringe>
I’m not sure what to say here. I’ve been rendered speechless. When this happens, it’s time to go.
Those aren’t orbs, unless the Bajorans failed geometry.
“Oh, that’s so cute! Would you like a treat? Yes you would! But seriously, I have a bitch border collie that is less gullible than you.”
Yup. Pointing out lack of evidence is persuasive to me but on woos it works in the same way that torturing a totally blind guy by shining a bright light in his eyes works. If woos understood the whole “evidence” thing, they wouldn’t be woos.
When arguing with people who have stupid views, I find that the only thing they cannot deny out of hand are their own views, so you have to use their own views against them.
In other words, the answers above that basically involve making stupid shit up and demanding your protagonist confirm they believe in it or be labelled “close minded” are on the right track. Keep making up stupider and stupider shit till even your protagonist can’t confirm they believe in it, then call them close minded relentlessly.
It’s better being a skeptic than a fool.
I’d just say “Yeah, you’re probably right.” and then change the subject and move on.