(no subject)

[theweaselking]

[Poll #1355726]

Comments

[vagabond27.livejournal.com]

Well really, you asked a pretty specific question.

[iblis-kukl.livejournal.com]

[anivair.livejournal.com]

if they're not smart enough to talk to you, I feel like civility is a waste.

[stormfeather.livejournal.com]

I picked #1 because a) it requires minimum verbal effort to deliver (and NO kind of effort should be expended on the terminally stupid), and b) it includes the all-important "go away" directive. In case The Stupid is contagious.

[dreamshade.livejournal.com]

No option is sarcastic and subtle enough for my tastes. Something like, "Isn't there something shiny you should be looking at?"

[maelorin]

ooh! that's quite good.

[ikkarus01.livejournal.com]

I like to use something similar, only with props if they are available. Something like "it's cute that you are talking. Here is a ball. Why don't you go bounce it?"

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

The ideal answer would be the sweet, sweet KLANG sound of a shovel hitting them in the face. Oh Shovel of Justice why must you be so illegal?

[maelorin]

it's the Bowling Ball of Retribution I miss most ...

[pope-guilty.livejournal.com]

+1

silence! i concur!

[maelorin]

whilst (2) is technically the best way to say "I'm sorry, you are not smart enough to have this conversation", i have actually used (1).

more often, though, i/we tend to weed out thickies by

1. resorting to making shit up until their brains [braines?] actually break,


2. descend into random fandom quotes (the best of these continues the previous conversation, only via references, metaphors, etc),


3. turn as ask the foolish observer/participant what they understand the central paradox of [theorist/author/cartoon character]'s work to be, and how well [favourite flavour/colour/cinematographer]'s thesis actually resolves it ...

Re: silence! i concur!

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

When my wonderful, clever husband is confronted by bible-wielding idiots¹, he thumps back with direct quotes from the Book of Hezakiah. Oftentimes, he wins because aforementioned idiots have to start thinking in order to keep up with him. Once the thought processes start, said idiots often need to step back and focus. Once in a while, an epiphany is reached. Most of the time, they just leave.

Everyone is happy.

¹ This is not to say that all followers of the Holy Bible are idiots. Merely the ones who will not see that there is a world beyond the written Word - the "intent" if you will. If that makes sense.

[sanityimpaired.livejournal.com]

I detest drama, and so I would go with "This conversation isn't going anywhere, and I'm not interested in frustrating both of us and continuing it." Let them figure out the why all on their own rather than starting an arguement which benefits nobody.

[gothpanda.livejournal.com]

That's a phrase that stupid people use to get out of conversations they can't "win."

[kierthos.livejournal.com]

Option 3.

But hey, that wouldn't surprise anyone who knows me.

[faeriemuriel.livejournal.com]

I would find that option 3 would be best-received. After all, you can play it off as a good-natured joke, right? >.> But they'll be all self-conscious and go away anyhow.

People would get defensive and pissy over the first two.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I'd probably just stare, say, "Uh huh," and excuse myself as i walk away. Alternatively, i'd turn it around and say, "I'm sorry, i'm not stupid enough to have this conversation with you." That would be politer without really blunting the impact one bit.

[rdmasters.livejournal.com]

For my part, I'd like to go with:
I regret that the relative synaptic complexities of the participants in this exchange of memetic nodes is sufficiently asymmetric that a satisfactory resolution possesses a probability congruent with the likelihood of a total inversion of a non-quantum gravitational singularity. I would further propose that a similar destination is appropriate for the other party.

This is all, of course, in the hopes that their eyes will glaze over, and they will depart before I finish.

[jagash.livejournal.com]

That is indeed the correct response. *thumbs up*

[psyco-path.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the audience.

Like for my Aunt I will politely change the topic to the power of moon crystals and their proper use.

[reyl.livejournal.com]

I find "How 'bout that local sports team?" to be acceptably inoffensive. Though I sense that you aren't really going for that. "Well, thanks for your opinion" also goes a long way.

[xaoswolf.livejournal.com]

I tend to remain calm, and use things like logic and common sense until the person that I am talking to starts typing in mostly caps and resorts to name calling, once they do that you've pretty much won.

By that point they have shown everybody how stupid they really are and run off to throw a hissy fit somewhere else. Of course if I'm lucky they will stick around and spout off with more stupidity and keep me entertained for a little while longer.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Who the fuck are you?

[eris-esoteric.livejournal.com]

Holy fuck, that was the hardest poll ever! Why'd you have to go with radio buttons, but not put an "any of the above would be awesome" option? Damn you.

[snap-wilson.livejournal.com]

I know you aren't being serious, but really, these responses smack of the pot calling the kettle black. Intelligence is a two-way street.

P.S.: I usually go with, "never mind."

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

What's the intent? To end the conversation, or to cut the other person down, or to reassure yourself that you tried your hardest to have this conversation but just couldn't explain yourself well enough for them to understand?

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Generally, to end the conversation since you've decided that further conversation is not worth the effort you'd spend on it.