You should always be open to the possibility that what you have just said…actually is nonsense. We’ve all spouted it from time to time.
Best to ask them why they think so and then…depending on the quality of their response nod thoughtfully/stare menacingly/turn on your heels and storm off/fly into a rage (delete as appropriate)
Exactly. That’s why I like “How so?” in a very neutral tone, which could mean “I’m genuinely curious as to where I’m going wrong” or could mean “I really don’t think what I said was nonsense, so you’d better have something to back up what you just said”.
If they explain why what you said was nonsense you just say, “Huh, thanks, I didn’t realise that…” or whatever. If they fail to explain why what said was nonsense, you are now officially in a position to rip them a new one.
Flips hair
i will try it sometimes dude
Many remember Reubens for his paintings of Ruebenesque women. I remember him for his sharp wit.
[QUOTE=Paul Reubens]
I know you are, but what am I?
[/quote]
I have a friend who uses variants of this kind of thing often. He will address a comment such as, “Management must be crazy to think blah blah blah,” by pretending to take it at face value. “Which people on the management team do you think are deranged? Is there any other evidence of their mental malfunction? Should we get outside help?”
I am sure I recall him asking in a meeting when some idea was dismissed as nonsense, “Do you not know the meaning of those words? Or do you not understand them in that order?”
A variant on “why?” would be “How - exactly?”
“That’s crazy talk!”
“That’s hypocritical,” followed by an statement they agree based on the same idea.
Gays can’t get married. Marriage is for having children.
So infertile people shouldn’t be allowed to get married.
Point outside the window.
Say, “My GOD! What is that?!”
When they turn to look, run out of the room.
“Please explain to me why you believe it to be nonsense.”
If they answer “it just is”, then you know you can’t argue logic or sense with them.
Cite?
‘No, it isn’t.’
I’d be tempted to say “it seems nonsensical to people who don’t understand it.”
Them: That’s Nonsense!
Me: Not to smart people.
Well, sometimes it just is.
Fine, maybe “it just is” isn’t the best or most well thought-out reply, but that doesn’t necessarily make the nonsense less nonsensical. If you’re spouting extraordinary nonsense, you’d better have some extraordinary proof backing it up.
“The government is run by alien lizard people in disguise!”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Explain why it’s nonsense!”
“It just is.”
Again, “it just is”, isn’t the best possible reply here. But it’s also not entirely unreasonable in context.
Maybe this:
Yes, it is.
The only answer worth any merit is, “As you wish.” And a big old smile.
Save your breath. Smile and move on. There is no reason to try and convince anyone so very distant from your point. Don’t bother. Let it lie.
“So, let’s see, what else can we talk about?”