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Message |
    
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 81
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:26 pm: |     |
Why do people feel the need to make gratuitous comments?
I am with a friend, and her acquaintance is with her. I am mentioning refinishing the hardwood floors in my house and the acquaintance says "whoa, how old is your house?" I say, "1926." and he says "wow, you are brave, who would buy a house that old? New construction is the way to go"
Um. To each his own, I guess. (and no, this is not a rant against McMansions, it is a rant against needless know-it-all ness).
What I responded with was, "well, we love it, you know what they say about character" with a plastic smile pasted on my face. What I wish I responded with is, "thanks for sharing your brilliance, I guess I'll go put my house on the market now."
Ugh. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6584
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:30 pm: | |
OK - you have to envision the body language here, because it is part of the effect.
Standing tall, holding drink/cigarette in one hand, arm extended, other arm crossed over your mid section. Take a slow sip/drag, swallow or exhale, consider the person for a moment, cock your head to the side and slowly say "well, I guess if you are into that sort of thing....." turn back to other person and continue the conversation as if the other guy had never spoken. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1377
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:33 pm: | |
maybe its you |
BGS
Citizen
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 530
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:41 pm: | |
Greentree...love the image your description conjures up...hope to meet you on of these days...
PS-think that response is great.... |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1376
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:53 pm: | |
Dobler88:
You might have responded as our carpenter/handyman does when he sees new construction:
"Gee, funny, but new houses just don't seem to be half as well built as almost anything put up before 1975. I guess the talent just isn't there anymore." |
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 82
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:58 pm: | |
greenetree, that is so perfect!
Do you ever wish later that you had said something in the moment?
remember that seinfeld when George couldn't think of insults quickly enough, so he resorted to telling someone later, "the jerk store called..they're outta you!!"
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Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2686
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 3:59 pm: | |
One of my favorites (but one I've never had an opportunity--or possibly just never remember--to use), and it must be said while looking very thoughtful, as if you are really considering what they have to say:
"You know what? If you were right, I'd agree with you!" |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1378
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 4:06 pm: | |
One of my favorites (but one I've never had an opportunity--or possibly just never remember--to use), and it must be said while looking very thoughtful, as if you are really considering what they have to say:
"You know what? If you were right, I'd agree with you!"
this explains so much |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5156
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 4:07 pm: | |
hows about..."thanks, I do respect your opinion, but I respect mine more in this instance." (its a line Ive used in the past)
I wont mention "McMansions" but will tell a "new construction" story. My aunt was over and saying how much she loves our house (built in 1903). I said the only bad thing is that when its really windy, my curtains start swaying. She said, its OK, your cousin's house in Chatham is only five years old and his curtains do the same thing when its windy.
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Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 522
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 4:08 pm: | |
meand, it appears someone has a crush on you. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11992
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 4:14 pm: | |
I would have just said, "Yeah, you're right," so she'd have nothing to argue with.
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dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1256
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 4:35 pm: | |
Meandtheboys, I think Oldstone is right. If "Badnarik for President" flyers start appearing in your mailbox, you'll know you've got a secret admirer. |
dano
Citizen
Username: Dano
Post Number: 161
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 4:50 pm: | |
Is it me? or is Lib a troll ? |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 5675
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 5:01 pm: | |
I would have said to the person, "ha ha very funny. But hey, now that we're on the subject, aren't those new McMansions ticky tacky? They just don't build with quality and class like they used too."
Then take advantage of the conversation lull to order another cocktail.
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Urbanretreat
Citizen
Username: Urbanretreat
Post Number: 18
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 5:10 pm: | |
I would billyclub them unconscious and then shove them in the crawlspace with the others.
I don't understand what people are thinking when they openly slight another in that setting. Socially inept? Vicious? Drunk? I have a sibling like this - "nice house, but you look fatter than last time." |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2688
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 5:26 pm: | |
Welcome Urbanretreat. Always nice to see a new poster with a biting sense of humor.  |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2689
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 5:30 pm: | |
Oldstone and Dave, "crush" and "secret admirer" wouldn't be the term I would use. "Hard on" is more like it--and I don't mean that in a good way!
And dano, seems you haven't posted a lot, but it won't take you long to figure out the answer to that question is "YES." |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1379
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:02 pm: | |
this coming from someone who stalks me on the board just to incesssantly insult me. Ahhh, irony! |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2690
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:13 pm: | |
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Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2691
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:21 pm: | |
Don't flatter yourself, Looney!  |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 1968
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:47 pm: | |
meand, together we will eventually get rid of loonatarian. He/she will say something so outrageous, exercising his/her freedoms and all that, that Jamie and Dave will ban him/her again. We make a great team and we have our next stalking/conspiracy meeting at my house; don't forget. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2693
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 6:54 pm: | |
I'll bring the wine!
OTOH, I'm sure Looney will have little or no trouble burying him/herself without anyone's help! |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1381
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 7:04 pm: | |
bring it. your combined might couldnt blow out a match |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8441
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 9:03 pm: | |
I'm sensing multiple bans unless people chill and start focusing their animosity on the moron in the topic's subject line. |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1291
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 9:49 pm: | |
Here's one:
This past summer at a party at our house an otherwise lovely new neighbor can't stop gushing about what a great dog we have. She proceeds to drop this pearl in front my daughter (who loves said dog more than life): "We looked into getting a xyz dog but changed our minds because they don't live very long". WTF?
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Copperfield
Citizen
Username: Copperfield
Post Number: 245
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 9:59 pm: | |
TomR: The problem with agreeing with people like that is that often as not, it just eggs them on further: "So why did you buy such an old house? What were you thinking? I know a woman who bought an old house once and she...BLAH BLAH YADDA YADDA.
2 time-tested tactics:
1. The cold stare. You stop. Stare for a count of about 20. And then start on a completely different line of conversation about something unrelated but fairly trivial (e.g. some movie you just saw) as if nothing had ever happened.
2. Hard-of-hearing. Pretend you didn't hear them. Several times. Apologize profusely, but keep claiming that you are having trouble making out what they are saying. The fourth time she has to proclaim "new construction is the way to go" you can give a noncommittal "oh, well I like old houses" and revert to plan A, switching the conversation to another topic. |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1139
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:11 pm: | |
A variation on 2 is to say,
"A douchbasaywha." |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 21
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:18 pm: | |
Hey, owning an old house is a hobby -- an expensive hobby. You can always out snob the "new constuction" people by pointing out this fact. Try, "Yes, not everyone can afford it."
Who needs to know half of us can't. |
ML
Supporter
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 2911
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:40 pm: | |
life is too short to care what morons think. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 23
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:44 pm: | |
Yeah, too short to not have a good comeback, though.
 |
ML
Supporter
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 2912
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 11:54 pm: | |
the cliche is true however: living well is the best revenge. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2643
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 8:14 am: | |
As someone who has stuck her foot in her mouth any number of times and unintentionally said things that are really really stupid, give the moron a break.
I was going to put some examples of the stupid things I have said here, but I am so mortified that my fingers won't type them.
Sometimes our mouths work faster than our brains. I apologize in advance to anyone I will offend in the future. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5157
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 9:11 am: | |
c'mon Wendy...tell us some of the stuff you've said...don't just dangle it out there and not tell us. Besides, its not healthy to keep it in...don't block...let it come out.  |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11997
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 1:40 pm: | |
Hank, don't pressure her. Wendyn has already proven herself to be a mensch, just for saying what she's said so far.
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Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1140
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 1:43 pm: | |
Can a woman be a mensch? |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 11998
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 1:47 pm: | |
Yes. The word looks like it means "man" but it means "human being."
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ML
Supporter
Username: Ml1
Post Number: 2913
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 1:47 pm: | |
Why can't a woman be more like a mensch? |
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