Twickster, please don’t berate me for resurrecting a 4 month old thread. I moved just a few days later and haven’t had home internet access until just a week or two ago (thanks to the stellar customer support of SBC). But, I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic in your reply. That’s the terrible thing about boards, IM, and email, without emoticons, it’s terribly difficult to convey tone. I could read this as:
This was well worth emerging from the shadows for :rolleyes:
OR
This was well worth emerging from the shadows for :D.
I, personally don’t think it was my best work, and would opt for:
This was well worth emerging from the shadows for (chuckle emoticon).
So, set this restless heart at ease. I can take rejection. I can take apathy. But I can’t take uncertainty.
I noticed my “wit” increased significantly when I started working out. Not only did I have a noticably quicker wit; I was also able to debate subjects a lot better as well.
I can’t say for sure if there is any science behind that, or if it’s just me, full of myself.
Also, I know this is cheating: If I know I’m going to be hanging around a certain circle of friends; I also know vaguely what subjects will be brought up durring our little “get together”. So the previous day I spend a lot of time thinking of witty things to say.
-And before I get any dubious looks from my fellow posters about that: Hey listen, I work 12 hours a night in complete isolation. That’s a loooong time to be left alone with your thoughts.
That’s true. There’s also a certain element of being “in the zone” from time to time, and may be common among the quick-witted. The best wits rely the least on prefabricated phrases and “routines”. Someone mentioned being well-read and intelligent earlier. I’d add quick minded, as in good at mental arithmetic, for example. Also, a liking for living on the edge, and a low boredom threshold. (Is that the right way round? Anyway, you know what I mean: someone who’s easily bored is likely to be quick-witted.)
I can’t speak for twickster, but I thought your comment was pretty clever, TripingJimiThing.
To get back to the topic of the thread, well, I’d agree with a lot of what’s already been said. It helps to have a broad base of knowledge, and be willing to risk putting your foot in your mouth by saying something impulsive. I think a lot of shy people like myself tend to hold back on humor because we’re afraid of looking silly. Of course, that can end up just making things worse since most people don’t someone who seems really uptight.
And I’ll be completely honest – rereading it now, I’m not slapping my knee or anything – but ) I’m a sucker for good wordplay, and b) it totally isn’t like me to snark at lurkers, so I’m guessing that at the time it struck me as pretty funny.