# Ways of making a point that make you instantly lose interest in a thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738 "2010-04-29T12:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/1 "2010-04-29T12:57:47Z")
I can be happily following a thread and the someone comes in and posts: What you are saying is: Inaccurate summation of what they are saying with bonus erroneous comparisons. And then a list of dot points. Followed by some convoluted logic that seeks to disprove the poster on the basis of their own post. The magic words are **what you are saying** , you can abandon any thread in which you see them. Any other tips? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/2 "2010-04-29T13:27:36Z")
“If a man/woman/liberal/conservative/black/white/christian/atheist said what I just said, you’d all be high fiving each other right now.” Basically trying to justify something stupid that he or she just said by trying to paint everyone else as a hypocrite. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/3 "2010-04-29T13:40:15Z")
“I was hoping you’d be more open-minded” or any variant of that phrase. Usually, it means “I was hoping you’d simply believe everything I just said without question!”, and generally indicates there will be no actual debating with the person who said it, since they’ll dismiss cites and questions with another “you’re closed-minded!” post. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/4 "2010-04-29T13:43:17Z")
"Here’s a list of all of the “whetever we are discussing and trying to list” from Wiki. Really annoying, that. Kills any interesting thread dead. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/5 "2010-04-29T13:49:25Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > "Here’s a list of all of the “whetever we are discussing and trying to list” from Wiki. > > Really annoying, that. Kills any interesting thread dead. Yeah, that’s kind of an “I’ll save you the trouble of watching the movie – the butler did it” moments. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/6 "2010-04-29T13:59:15Z")
I have yet to see an overt version of this at the Dope, but it does remind me of how an ex-friend (now merely an acquaintance) used to preface any comment he would make in opposition to someone else’s, “Well, in my opinion, which is vastly superior to yours…” That tone is apt to make me look for another thread a.s.a.p. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/7 "2010-04-29T14:09:40Z")
The quote and respond, quote and respond, quote and respond style of debate. I loathe it. Like this: > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > There are one billion people in China > > Actually, there are 1.3 billion people in China. > > > [@](#): > > > > and they all speak Chinese > > You know that there are actually quite a few different languages spoken in China, right? > > > [@](#): > > > > and none of them are assholes > > There are assholes everywhere. This style of discussion makes one look like a pedantic douchebag. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/8 "2010-04-29T14:11:51Z")
Anything that involves “think of the children” or the stupid argument, “if you have nothing to hide, then you should be perfectly fine with… (unwarranted searches/police cameras in your house/recording your phone conversations/being detained for hours).” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/9 "2010-04-29T14:51:36Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] “if you have nothing to hide, then you should be perfectly fine with… (unwarranted searches/police cameras in your house/recording your phone conversations/being detained for hours).” [/quote] Oh god yes. I hate that line of reasoning. I also hate; “See, I can easily prove you wrong (followed by long list of points that are based on faulty logic, or are flat out wrong)” - repeated endlessly and forcefully as if by doing so you are proving your point. While completely failing to comprehend that you’re only “winning” the argument by driving people away with blunt force stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/10 "2010-04-29T15:26:54Z")
“As a Christian, I believe X.” I’ve got news for you. There’s basically nothing that all people who call themselves Christians agree on. That’s why there are so many sects. In particular, I probably don’t believe ‘X’ myself. Correcting you means further derailing the thread. So it’s dead Jim. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/11 "2010-04-29T15:48:37Z")
The “la la la la I’ve got fingers in my ears because what you’re saying is just SO wrong” response. _It is my contention that there’s nothing at all wrong with wearing white after labor day_ **Oh that’s just stupid. If everyone thought like you, there’d be people wearing white pants in January, and thank Og most people recognize your sentiment for the bullshit that it is** _The purpose of pants is adornment and warmth. White pants would keep you adequately warm and adornment is a matter of taste. What’s wrong with white pants in January?_ **That wouldn’t work because no one would sell them during the buying season because that’s not when white pants are sold, so as soon as all you ‘white pants in January’ folks tried to buy them the few that were in stock would run out, so it would not work, so there!** _Oh please, the only reason the stock of white pants is low is because most people do not, indeed, buy them to wear in January. If demand increased, supply would increase_ **No, if demand increased, prices would increase and soon white pants would cost more than your house** _If the price of white pants became too egregious, there are always Simplicity patterns and home sewing machines_ **I’ve reported you, you troll! You’re just trying to draw attention. You’re just trying to make us all offended and stuff. You know this is nonsense and you should go away.** ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/12 "2010-04-29T15:54:45Z")
If someone admits they have a hernia, this is tmi and will pretty much kill the whole topic. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/13 "2010-04-29T16:01:14Z")
now your,cookin ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/14 "2010-04-29T16:04:06Z")
lol 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/15 "2010-04-29T16:26:07Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Anything that involves “think of the children” or the stupid argument, “if you have nothing to hide, then you should be perfectly fine with… (unwarranted searches/police cameras in your house/recording your phone conversations/being detained for hours).” YES! I hate that debates get derailed by this kind of lunacy. You have to spend your time talking about why it’s not okay for cops to come into your apartment and sift through your underwear drawer, rather than discuss the issue. Although at times, that _is_ the issue, which is even sadder. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/16 "2010-04-29T16:37:52Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > _It is my contention that there’s nothing at all wrong with wearing white after labor day_ Replace “white” that sentence with “black.” Therefore, you are a racist and hypocrite. I win the thread! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/17 "2010-04-29T16:45:35Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Replace “white” that sentence with “black.” Therefore, you are a racist and hypocrite. > > I win the thread! This. > [@MeanOldLady](#): > > YES! I hate that debates get derailed by this kind of lunacy. You have to spend your time talking about why it’s not okay for cops to come into your apartment and sift through your underwear drawer, rather than discuss the issue. Although at times, that _is_ the issue, which is even sadder. This. > [@AHunter3](#): > > The “la la la la I’ve got fingers in my ears because what you’re saying is just SO wrong” response. > _It is my contention that there’s nothing at all wrong with wearing white after labor day_ > > **Oh that’s just stupid. If everyone thought like you, there’d be people wearing white pants in January, and thank Og most people recognize your sentiment for the bullshit that it is** > > _The purpose of pants is adornment and warmth. White pants would keep you adequately warm and adornment is a matter of taste. What’s wrong with white pants in January?_ > > **That wouldn’t work because no one would sell them during the buying season because that’s not when white pants are sold, so as soon as all you ‘white pants in January’ folks tried to buy them the few that were in stock would run out, so it would not work, so there!** > > _Oh please, the only reason the stock of white pants is low is because most people do not, indeed, buy them to wear in January. If demand increased, supply would increase_ > > **No, if demand increased, prices would increase and soon white pants would cost more than your house** > > _If the price of white pants became too egregious, there are always Simplicity patterns and home sewing machines_ > > **I’ve reported you, you troll! You’re just trying to draw attention. You’re just trying to make us all offended and stuff. You know this is nonsense and you should go away.** This. > [@the lone cashew](#): > > If someone admits they have a hernia, this is tmi and will pretty much kill the whole topic. This. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/18 "2010-04-29T16:49:46Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > The quote and respond, quote and respond, quote and respond style of debate. I loathe it. Like this: > > This style of discussion makes one look like a pedantic douchebag. I think we’ve settled on calling that “post-parsing,” as in, “post-parsing pedants.” 🙂 When two posters start going at it hammer and tongs over some stupid point that no one else cares about, and keep going after each other after other posters have started hinting that they should stfu and take it to another thread already. That usually makes me leave a thread I was previously interested in. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/19 "2010-04-29T17:00:01Z")
> [@](#): > > posted by **Swallowed My Cellphone** > Anything that involves “think of the children” or the stupid argument.. **Freudian Slit** did that just recently - Someone requested an only-slightly mutilated cattle teat and she comes in there with her “starving children” guilt trip, pretty much ruined everyone’s mood. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738/20 "2010-04-29T17:11:22Z")
AHunter3 is killing me. He got some dopers\* nailed.\* [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-of-making-a-point-that-make-you-instantly-lose-interest-in-a-thread/537738.md?page=2)