# Good responses to "that's a non sequitur" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2016, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733 "2016-08-04T12:18:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/21 "2016-08-04T16:24:48Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > “That’s a non sequitur.” > > “No, but that is.” Or in Latin: _ita vero, sequitur_. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/22 "2016-08-04T16:43:16Z")
Just respond “You’re not seeing the big picture.” “Trump and Clinton are both terrible candidates. We shouldn’t vote for either of them.” “Keep in mind that, despite their name, the average centipede has seventy legs.” “What? What the hell does that have to do with the election? That’s a complete non sequitur.” “You’re not seeing the big picture. Think about it.” And then nod once and walk away. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/23 "2016-08-04T16:58:30Z")
Fish for dinner? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/24 "2016-08-04T17:03:11Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Depending on the situation, maybe it \*is \*a non sequitur. What’s the situation? So there’s these two elephants in a bath tub… ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/25 "2016-08-04T17:16:00Z")
If the person is a Star Trek fan then respond in a monotone with “Your facts are uncoordinated”. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/26 "2016-08-04T18:05:28Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > “Yes, but what influence does it have on elephant migration patterns ?” was my grandpa’s go-to comeback in these situations. “Elephant migrations” can be swapped for “the fluctuations of the price of sugar” or “the cooking time of sauerkraut” to keep it fresh. My wife uses, “the price of beans in China.” ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/27 "2016-08-04T19:38:31Z")
> [@Corner\_Case](#): > > If the person is a Star Trek fan then respond in a monotone with “Your facts are uncoordinated”. Damn, beat me to it\*!\* If you’re a Python fan you should just yell, _“BURMA!”_… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/28 "2016-08-04T20:12:25Z")
> [@Corner\_Case](#): > > If the person is a Star Trek fan then respond in a monotone with “Your facts are uncoordinated”. _“Non-sequitur?”_…that’s what [del]she[/del] **Nomad** said! ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/29 "2016-08-04T20:34:12Z")
“No it isn’t” ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/30 "2016-08-05T07:07:45Z")
_That’s_ not a non-sequitur, _Ceci_ n’est pas une pipe! ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/31 "2016-08-05T07:29:54Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > “Yes, but what influence does it have on elephant migration patterns ?” was my grandpa’s go-to comeback in these situations. “Elephant migrations” can be swapped for “the fluctuations of the price of sugar” or “the cooking time of sauerkraut” to keep it fresh. You’re wrong because my father says “the price of fish in China”. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/32 "2016-08-05T07:57:44Z")
“You know who was against non-sequiturs? Hitler, that’s who.” ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/33 "2016-08-05T08:54:21Z")
“Mange tout Rodney, Mange tout” ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/34 "2016-08-05T09:29:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Just respond “You’re not seeing the big picture.” > > “Trump and Clinton are both terrible candidates. We shouldn’t vote for either of them.” > “Keep in mind that, despite their name, the average centipede has seventy legs.” > “What? What the hell does that have to do with the election? That’s a complete non sequitur.” > “You’re not seeing the big picture. Think about it.” > > And then nod once and walk away. This I like. Always mess with their minds, man. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/35 "2016-08-05T09:39:13Z")
“It’s pretty much the most sequiturian thing I’ve ever said”. mmm ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/36 "2016-08-05T10:20:09Z")
No soap, radio. Oh wait, I missed QuickSilver’s post. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/37 "2016-08-05T13:19:53Z")
> [@freebird](#): > > So instead of trying to \*explain \*why it isn’t a non sequitur… Instead make _them_ explain why it’s a non sequitur. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/38 "2016-08-05T14:09:38Z")
Tell them “You’re begging the question.” Nobody knows what that means either. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/39 "2016-08-05T14:35:22Z")
I’m reminded of a bit by Louis CK, where he says that if people call you an asshole, you don’t get to argue about that. The only sensible response is: “OK, what happened, and how did I get here?” As others have mentioned, if everyone was constantly accusing me of spouting non sequiturs, I think might want to look into whether they were onto something. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733/40 "2016-08-05T14:59:17Z")
Either a strong “_No, **you** are a non-sequitur!_” or "No, it is very sequitur! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-responses-to-thats-a-non-sequitur/761733.md?page=3)