# Good responses to “that’s nonsense”
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 25, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702 "2016-05-25T22:55:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@freebird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freebird)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/1 "2016-05-25T22:55:18Z")
Sometimes we all come across people that just dismiss our ideas or thoughts by saying “that’s nonsense”. So I was wondering what would be some good responses to that in general? Any ideas?
Good comebacks would also do but serious answers are also welcome. I mean I don’t always feel like explaining to them what I am saying is not nonsense because sometimes people just don’t want to listen and use this expression to simply end the conversation, which is a bit rude to be honest.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/2 "2016-05-25T23:13:03Z")
“There’s over 7 billion people on the plant. The vast majority of them will never be my friend. Thank you for saving us the time by self-identifying as to which side of the fence you’re on. Good day, sir.”
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/3 "2016-05-25T23:16:09Z")
[Try this one.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skhU2FF6uEM)
The best response is probably ‘why is that nonsense’ but that will lead to a discussion with a person who isn’t able to have a discussion, and is probably a waste of time.
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/4 "2016-05-25T23:38:51Z")
If you really feel that the person has not given your ideas fair consideration, this is sometimes applicable:
[The argument from personal incredulity](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Argument_from_incredulity)
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### Author:  [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/5 "2016-05-26T00:17:04Z")
“Your face is nonsense.”
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### Author:  [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/6 "2016-05-26T00:22:30Z")
> [@Riemann](#):
>
> If you really feel that the person has not given your ideas fair consideration, this is sometimes applicable:
>
> [The argument from personal incredulity](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Argument_from_incredulity)
Oh, this is good.
> [@monstro](#):
>
> “Your face is nonsense.”
But this is the one I’m more likely to remember.
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### Author:  [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/7 "2016-05-26T00:26:39Z")
“That’s nonsense”, eh? Well as a rejoinder that’s pretty quick and easy.
Like your mum.
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### Author:  [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/8 "2016-05-26T00:32:55Z")
There are dozens of popular beliefs that would make me want to just say, “That’s nonsense” – Things I’ve researched once but don’t have ready refutations for… so I have some sympathy for that response.
The best rejoinder I can think of is, “It might seem that way, but if you get a chance you should check it out on Wikipedia. It’s really kind of interesting.”
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/9 "2016-05-26T00:45:30Z")
If you really want to deal a knockout blow you need to pull out a fallacy with a Latin name, forcing your opponent to Google it and impressing any audience with your erudition. This seems like a particularly apposite one, it means precisely the rejection of an idea as absurd without addressing its merits.
[_Argumentum ad lapidem_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_lapidem)
It has a nice anecdote behind its name,
> [@](#):
>
> The name of this fallacy is attributed to Dr. Samuel Johnson, who refuted Bishop Berkeley’s immaterialist philosophy (that there are no material objects, only minds and ideas in those minds), by kicking a large stone and asserting, “I refute it thus.”
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### Author:  [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/10 "2016-05-26T01:03:10Z")
It _is_ quite difficult to make sense of.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/11 "2016-05-26T01:10:03Z")
I can explain it for you but I can’t understand it for you
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/12 "2016-05-26T01:10:39Z")
> [@Randolph](#):
>
> It _is_ quite difficult to make sense of.
But just be careful not to go anywhere near the old trope about them dismissing Galileo as crazy, because then your opponent can hit you back with a Carl Sagan quote, and that trumps pretty much anything.
> [@](#):
>
> The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.
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### Author:  [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/13 "2016-05-26T01:13:52Z")
[I’ve tried responding in kind](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19168702&postcount=30). Satisfying although not effective.
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### Author:  [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/14 "2016-05-26T01:30:24Z")
> [@zoid](#):
>
> I can explain it for you but I can’t understand it for you
I’m going to remember this one. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/15 "2016-05-26T02:40:12Z")
A simple “how so?” usually works fine.
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### Author:  [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/16 "2016-05-26T03:47:14Z")
“[No. You’re a towel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQiNxYxmgVM)!”
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### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/17 "2016-05-26T04:04:23Z")
“Nonsense THIS!”
\*turn over the table and flying back kick their face.
Feel free to say I told you to do so in court.
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### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/18 "2016-05-26T04:44:57Z")
> [@zoid](#):
>
> I can explain it for you but I can’t understand it for you
That’s the prettiest thing I’ve seen or hear this whole day! Thank you!
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/19 "2016-05-26T05:21:47Z")
> [@zoid](#):
>
> I can explain it for you but I can’t understand it for you
Good one!
How about, \<_nodding slowly_\> “People with your limitations usually think so at first.”
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### Author:  [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-that-s-nonsense/755702/20 "2016-05-26T09:08:11Z")
Either “why do you say that” (ball back in their court), or, “I thought you’d say that.” - back on the defensive. Depends on the situation.
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