theonewiththevampires: Anyone want to help me find a Dragonlance fanfic? It was in an AU where the..

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theonewiththevampires:

Anyone want to help me find a Dragonlance fanfic?

It was in an AU where the twins trilogy never happened, Raistlin stayed in the tower teaching Dalamar and one day realized that a young Palin had magic but Caramon was refusing to let him go to mage school.

So he kidnapped him.

He gave him back, but with a letter letting Caramon know that his choices were: a) sent Palin to learn magic or b) Raistlin wouldn’t return him next time. 

How to Argue Like an Asshole

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yesperono:

cornichaun:

Good evening, friends, let me tell you some Secrets on how to argue like (and with) assholes. I’m writing this because I keep running into a particular asshole, and I need to stop engaging with them, and so this is an instruction sheet for myself as well as you guys. 

First, try to avoid assholes; they don’t deserve your time and energy. But, if an Argument is unavoidable, here are a few tips on how to emerge unscathed. 

Let go of the idea that you’re going to win. 

You’re not gonna win. Nobody wins in an argument with an asshole. But, on the other hand, you can make them lose. You can deprive them of their entertainment and their triumph. 

How??? 

Do not present your side of this debate. 

This is so counter-intuitive for most of us who believe in things like, oh, science, or real facts, or the idea that real facts can be determined by science. Here’s a cool terrible thing about humans: certainty has nothing to do with facts. And when people are certain, that is when they become assholes. 

When someone’s only goal is to win an argument, any real evidence or facts you give them is just ammunition for them to turn against you. 

You will not convince them. So what should you be doing? 

Destroy their arguments.

This is a thing of joy, because it’s what assholes are used to doing. They are, at heart, morons who don’t know how to construct, only how to destroy. 

I used to be super emotional about arguments like this. I couldn’t think of anything to say while the other person ranted on about their horrifying bigotry. Now I’m a lawyer, and I’ve learned to weaponize my essentially nitpicky nature. For money. 

So here are some easy tactics you can remember and deploy: 

- Make them define the words they use. Nitpick the definitions. 

- Turn questions back on them. If they ask you “why do you believe x”, ask them why they believe y. If they pull some “I asked first” shit, ask them why they’re afraid to defend their beliefs. 

- Call them emotional.  If possible, pick out specific emotions. This is especially devastating when you’re debating a man, as he will get more emotional as a result. 

- “Why is that funny? I don’t get it.” Making people explain mean jokes can be a delight; they just wilt the more you question them about the underlying assumptions. 

- Laugh at any especially dumb shit. Like they use some slogan or catchphrase that’s obviously untrue, due to science, or essentially ridiculous, like “we’ve made America great again,” and you just blurt out laughing. If they get mad, tell them – oh, so sorry, I’ll shut up, I’m giving you the floor to talk about your beliefs. I’m respecting you. This is a goddamn power move. It gives you the high ground, and also the implied control over the situation. The floor belongs to you, but you are yielding it to someone because you can. 

- If they make an awkward exit, let them. Especially if they call the discussion “political.” It means they’re feeling attacked. Graciously allow them to retreat with their tail between their legs. If they storm off, allow them to do that too. Congratulations; you’ve ended the argument and you don’t have to deal with it anymore. 

Basically: hand the asshole a shovel, and let ‘em dig. Relieve yourself of the burden to convince them they are wrong, and just sour their fun instead. 

–

Additionally, these are the tactics that assholes use, consciously or subconsciously, all the time. Recognize them. Once you know what they are, you can become immune to the intimidation and belittling tactics. 

Good luck. 

*takes notes*

Rely on anecdotal evidence. Particularly if you’re the one in it. I ended up yelling at holocaust denialists twice, and both times I was able to roll out my patented fuck you up point about there being no proof there were gas chambers:

“I went to Majdanek and they still have gas chambers there! The walls are dyed blue from Zyklon B! There are nail marks in the plaster.”

Exhibit one stammered for a while, with one of his mates leaning over his shoulders murmuring ‘y’know, she’s got a point’. 

Exhibit B made a tit of himself claiming that proved gas masks didn’t work. Pretty sure they couldn’t use any of that footage in their shitty video, even before the Jewish museum staff threw them out.

wetwareproblem:My friend Awesome Kim told me last week about how...

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wetwareproblem:

My friend Awesome Kim told me last week about how her med team assured her that the treatment she’s undergoing is perfectly safe. It’s just a lead-lined needle in a lead box that they administer from another room for Reasons.

Yes, because she only needs to take one X-ray every very few years, the doctors have to administer X-rays several times a day. Radiation builds up.