Comments on: Weird Wednesdays: The Art of the Put-Down http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down Not Facebook Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:58:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Liam http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2254 Liam Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:24:52 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2254 Thanks John, I was a bit worried that about ten of my attempted posts would turn up at once and get me banned from the site. Hope FG responds as I've been trying to get back to him for a week now. Thanks John, I was a bit worried that about ten of my attempted posts would turn up at once and get me banned from the site.

Hope FG responds as I’ve been trying to get back to him for a week now.

]]> By: John http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2252 John Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:06:32 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2252 Liam- Sorry it took a while for this to post. The spam filter is stupider than I thought. I agree, BTW. Liam- Sorry it took a while for this to post. The spam filter is stupider than I thought. I agree, BTW.

]]> By: Liam http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2247 Liam Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:30:05 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2247 FG I don't think we're talking about showering someone with foul-mouthed abuse here. The best put downs can even leave the 'victim' briefly thinking he's been on the end of a compliment before realisation sets in. I've linked to the Times piece below. Have a look, particularly at the bottom of the article and the 'top ten' listed there. Some of them are truly witty. On a separate note, I don't think men of the calibre of Winston Churchill or Clement Attlee would have turned into quivering wrecks or gone into a depressive tailspin because of a cutting remark. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3797745.ece FG

I don’t think we’re talking about showering someone with foul-mouthed abuse here. The best put downs can even leave the ‘victim’ briefly thinking he’s been on the end of a compliment before realisation sets in.

I’ve linked to the Times piece below. Have a look, particularly at the bottom of the article and the ‘top ten’ listed there. Some of them are truly witty.

On a separate note, I don’t think men of the calibre of Winston Churchill or Clement Attlee would have turned into quivering wrecks or gone into a depressive tailspin because of a cutting remark.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3797745.ece

]]> By: Stephen http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2238 Stephen Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:27:59 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2238 Liam: I like the delusions of adequacy, must remember that :) FG: I guess we're chips off very different blocks. I think some people simply deserve it, and of course are free to hit back with something: it's like a battle of wits. You are mistaken if you think I am saying that put-downs are necessary to win an argument. I don't think that. I do think they can help though, and can be a very effect rhetorical and polemic tool. I find a good put-down funny, and even when I look back on times when I've been on the receiving end I don't feel hurt or wounded, I simply feel "damn, I wish I had thought of that." They're part of the cut-and-thrust of full-blooded debate, and make that debate much more interesting. S Liam: I like the delusions of adequacy, must remember that :)

FG: I guess we’re chips off very different blocks. I think some people simply deserve it, and of course are free to hit back with something: it’s like a battle of wits. You are mistaken if you think I am saying that put-downs are necessary to win an argument. I don’t think that. I do think they can help though, and can be a very effect rhetorical and polemic tool. I find a good put-down funny, and even when I look back on times when I’ve been on the receiving end I don’t feel hurt or wounded, I simply feel “damn, I wish I had thought of that.” They’re part of the cut-and-thrust of full-blooded debate, and make that debate much more interesting.

S

]]> By: Liam http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2234 Liam Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:19:05 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2234 F.G I think there's a difference between just showering someone with abuse and a clever retort or barbed response in a dispute between grown adults. The best such put-downs often leave the 'victim' struggling to work out just how he has been insulted, or even briefly thinking he's actually been complimented. Have a look at the link below, especially the list at the end of the article. There is genuine wit in some of them, and no real viciousness. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3797745.ece F.G

I think there’s a difference between just showering someone with abuse and a clever retort or barbed response in a dispute between grown adults.

The best such put-downs often leave the ‘victim’ struggling to work out just how he has been insulted, or even briefly thinking he’s actually been complimented. Have a look at the link below, especially the list at the end of the article. There is genuine wit in some of them, and no real viciousness.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3797745.ece

]]> By: F.G. http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2233 F.G. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:49:35 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2233 Why do you feel the need to put people down? Surely if they committed any infraction then it can be dealt with using discussions that don't involve unnecessary insults. If you see your task in life as to make as many people feel low and depressed as possible then continue to insult them in these ways, I think that's horrible. Why do you feel the need to put people down? Surely if they committed any infraction then it can be dealt with using discussions that don’t involve unnecessary insults. If you see your task in life as to make as many people feel low and depressed as possible then continue to insult them in these ways, I think that’s horrible.

]]> By: Liam http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2232 Liam Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:31:31 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2232 Some good ones so far. I saw the Times piece and there were some absolute gems in there. A personal favourite is one a friend of mine used years ago in a pub argument, when he demolished the other guy and finished off by saying his opponent had 'delusions of adequacy.' Another one - not quite a put-down but magnificently contemptuous - is the old favourite round here of: "I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire." Some good ones so far. I saw the Times piece and there were some absolute gems in there.

A personal favourite is one a friend of mine used years ago in a pub argument, when he demolished the other guy and finished off by saying his opponent had ‘delusions of adequacy.’

Another one – not quite a put-down but magnificently contemptuous – is the old favourite round here of: “I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire.”

]]> By: Stephen http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2229 Stephen Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:56:50 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2229 Rosa: Thanks for the kind words, I never thought any of ours putdowns would have got a mention here! Greg: Yes, I like that one too... John: it is indeed :D S. Rosa: Thanks for the kind words, I never thought any of ours putdowns would have got a mention here!

Greg: Yes, I like that one too…

John: it is indeed :D

S.

]]> By: John http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2223 John Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:55:31 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2223 Man, Stephen, some of this stuff IS great after all! Man, Stephen, some of this stuff IS great after all!

]]> By: Greg, Sacramento http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2222 Greg, Sacramento Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:34:31 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2222 I love the picture and what Churchill said is one of the best I've ever heard. How about this one, might suit you guys.... 'You have diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the ideas.' I love the picture and what Churchill said is one of the best I’ve ever heard. How about this one, might suit you guys….

‘You have diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the ideas.’

]]> By: Rosalita Paglia http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/comment-page-1/#comment-2221 Rosalita Paglia Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:31:00 +0000 http://www.john-wright.net/2008/04/23/weird-wednesdays-the-art-of-the-put-down/#comment-2221 I'm not sure about whether or not these qualify as put-downs, but some of your own have had me on the floor laughing in the past. Memorable, "Whatever else we might say about Animal Rights we can at least conclude that in most cases it does something to the normal functioning of a persons mind. The cure? I prescribe a bacon sandwich for breakfast, a burger for lunch and steak for dinner." - Stephen graham And I went back to look for this one Stephen "Entering the mental world of Monbiot is a little like entering a lunatic asylum: the majority of the content is intellectually retarded, unwittingly humorous at times, full of incoherent babble, and the ever-present stench of stale piss." And some of John's attack letters are brutal. Referring to the "manipulative fuckwit filmmaker Michael Moore." Talking about Morgan Spurlock film. "bullshit. From ideology to ideal to idea, from premise to application, from composition to execution, from beginning to end, the film was a lamentable pile of malodorous, humming bullshit; flakey and cretinous, foolish and unconvincing, vacuous and lame, demented and gratuitous, wrongheaded and disingenuous, intellectually dull, ideologically crippled, cerebrally unbolted, philosophically defective, conked out, half-baked, hare-brained, ill-judged, field-fresh, luke-warm, steaming, noxious bullshit." I was on the floor. Simply great reading. I’m not sure about whether or not these qualify as put-downs, but some of your own have had me on the floor laughing in the past.

Memorable, “Whatever else we might say about Animal Rights we can at least conclude that in most cases it does something to the normal functioning of a persons mind. The cure? I prescribe a bacon sandwich for breakfast, a burger for lunch and steak for dinner.” – Stephen graham

And I went back to look for this one Stephen

“Entering the mental world of Monbiot is a little like entering a lunatic asylum: the majority of the content is intellectually retarded, unwittingly humorous at times, full of incoherent babble, and the ever-present stench of stale piss.”

And some of John’s attack letters are brutal.

Referring to the “manipulative fuckwit filmmaker Michael Moore.”

Talking about Morgan Spurlock film. “bullshit. From ideology to ideal to idea, from premise to application, from composition to execution, from beginning to end, the film was a lamentable pile of malodorous, humming bullshit; flakey and cretinous, foolish and unconvincing, vacuous and lame, demented and gratuitous, wrongheaded and disingenuous, intellectually dull, ideologically crippled, cerebrally unbolted, philosophically defective, conked out, half-baked, hare-brained, ill-judged, field-fresh, luke-warm, steaming, noxious bullshit.”

I was on the floor. Simply great reading.

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