# The "One sentence of good advice" thread.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-sentence-of-good-advice-thread/642265>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 27, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-sentence-of-good-advice-thread/642265 "2012-11-27T14:51:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 10

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**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-sentence-of-good-advice-thread/642265/181 "2012-12-04T23:53:36Z")

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> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> C’mon. Everyone knows that _penguins_ explode, not seagulls.
> 
> [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgoRDYZQMrQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgoRDYZQMrQ)

Well, technically one of the birds only _deflagrates_, but I’m usually not one to quibble over semantics.

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**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-sentence-of-good-advice-thread/642265/182 "2012-12-05T05:27:51Z")

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> [@Ranchoth](#):
>
> When you make a policy decision, _whatever_ your motives behind it, phrase the announcement so it sounds like anyone who complains is the bigger jerk for doing so.

My bosses do this all the time. I fucking hate it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-one-sentence-of-good-advice-thread/642265/183 "2012-12-05T13:16:26Z")

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> [@Tangent](#):
>
> My bosses do this all the time. I fucking hate it.

I mostly figured it out from reading corporate CYA press statements after they do something weasely.

For variants:

Comic book superheroes will do much the same thing, only with more sanctimony.

Message board moderators ditto, but with a brusque, supercilious attitude instead—and I mean mods in _every_ message board. I suspect it’s a standardized practice from an O’Reilly manual, somewhere. 😃

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