Personal thoughts on best ways to deal with wackos

[Pengwuino]

Im sure we've all run into people who claim the US never went to the moon and point out things like "why can't you see the stars" or "its too cold!" or whatever or people who think some big corporation runs the world or a group of 12 elders from switzerland dictate the world or that nuclear energy is horrible because if somethin goes wrong, supposedly itd be the equivalent of a 10 megaton bomb going off from people who spell physics with a k.

So what do you guys do when you come up to people like this? Whats your general attitute towards them and do you try to reason with them as much as possible or give up the first time they show their ignorance? Anyone have tricks to dealing with these people that result in much time saved and patience kept?

 

[Pseudopod]

First determine whether you are dealing with a rational person or not. If you aren't then no amount of arguing on your part will convince them so might as well give up... or have fun with them and use your science knowledge to invent some credible sounding far-out theories that they will believe. That's always fun

 

[godzilla7]

Simply look embarrassed and say yes I know I was so soo sooo wrong, your right how could I have been so stupid, then make your exit; quick easy and painless

 

[PIT2]

If the person is not rational, tell him that he is a deformed piglet and should drop dead and **** off.

 

[hypatia]

I just smile and nod while avoiding eye contact.

 

[Pengwuino]

Simply look embarrassed and say yes I know I was so soo sooo wrong, your right how could I have been so stupid, then make your exit; quick easy and painless

I think ill do that and walk away but let out a big fart as i leave

 

[Francis M]

I agree with pseudopod on this one. At least the first part. Determine (it may take some time. SOme weirdos are rational sounding at first) if they're rational. If at some point you determine they aren't try and get out gracefully. If you can't detach diplomatically and they seem to be bonding with you...RUN, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Try to sell them your car for twice its value. Never give up.

 

[Chronos]

I usually just say "Fascinating", become distracted by something else, and wander off. Repeat as necessary.

 

[Dayle Record]

My question is, "How can people who know everything, learn anything?"

My answer is, "Please don't instruct an idiot, how to appear intelligent."

My problem is, why isn't this thread closed?

 

[Math Is Hard]

My aunt and uncle recently went to see the "what the bleep" movie so I got a big explanatory lecture from them on quantum physics last time the family got together for dinner. Don't get me wrong, I love them dearly, but .. ok, there was just no way out but to stuff a chicken leg in my mouth and nod appreciatively.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Pretty much all of the same rules apply as for those who wish to talk about sports or to show their kid's photo album.

 

[Pengwuino]

My question is, "How can people who know everything, learn anything?"

My answer is, "Please don't instruct an idiot, how to appear intelligent."

My problem is, why isn't this thread closed?

Why shoudl this thread be closed?

 

[godzilla7]

His problem is not that this thread is still open but more that his mind is so closed. A light hearted thread like this one has as much right to exist as a discussion on anything profound, lighten up Dayle, the worlds gloomy enough as it is; what is it you object to Dayle, or are you trying to teach idiots to be intelligent? Mission achieved

 

[Dayle Record]

This activity is described by social scientists, as the "They're So Stupid", kind of discussion. This is an educational forum. Saying that this is a light hearted thread, doesn't make it one. You might best name the thread, What to say to people, that don't think like you do. Wackos has just been substituted as a broad category of individuals that you can disrespect, rather than a more narrow category that would finger you as a bigot.

We all have various holes in our buckets and we attempt to fill them in different ways. Education is not going to fill the holes in your bucket if you think that it is better to have more water than anyone else. That means that you have holes in your bucket an education won't fill. Once your bucket is filled, then what are you going to do with it. What is the value of the substance you wish to carry? Will you find a group of individuals with similar full buckets, so you can gather and deride people whose buckets are not so full?

 

[xJuggleboy]

This activity is described by social scientists, as the "They're So Stupid", kind of discussion. This is an educational forum. Saying that this is a light hearted thread, doesn't make it one. You might best name the thread, What to say to people, that don't think like you do. Wackos has just been substituted as a broad category of individuals that you can disrespect, rather than a more narrow category that would finger you as a bigot.

We all have various holes in our buckets and we attempt to fill them in different ways. Education is not going to fill the holes in your bucket if you think that it is better to have more water than anyone else. That means that you have holes in your bucket an education won't fill. Once your bucket is filled, then what are you going to do with it. What is the value of the substance you wish to carry? Will you find a group of individuals with similar full buckets, so you can gather and deride people whose buckets are not so full?

Spoken like a true wacko Pritty much everything he said is worthless. Most of it didnt even make sence.

Education is not going to fill the holes in your bucket if you think that it is better to have more water than anyone else.

HUH?!

PErhaps its time to try out some of the staratageys to being rid of this person...

 

[Dayle Record]

Two words here. Spell Checker, or Chubby Checker if you like the twist.

 

[Pengwuino]

Yes, i agree, that was spoken like a true wacko. Anyone who uses the word "bigot" in that context is a person who generally goes around telling everyone off for little to no reason. They also usually can't take a joke and believe the whole world is based on discrimination and that every human being's opinions and demands should be accepted as the truth no matter how factless or unsubstantiated their claims may be. Its the type that thinks for example, children should be included into all discussions and their opinions must be taken into account as equal to or greater then an adult's (more educated) opinion for no reason other then to satisfy their own cowardice towards possible confrontation or having someones feelings hurt. And coincadently, your claiming this thread is unfairly confrontational yet you are the only one suggesting it should be censored solely because you don't like it.

 

[xJuggleboy]

Two words here. Spell Checker, or Chubby Checker if you like the twist.

Time to try my favorite...

:: simles and nods ::

 

[Math Is Hard]

If you guys insult Dayle one more time I am going to hijack this thread and drive it over a cliff.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Wackos has just been substituted as a broad category of individuals that you can disrespect

I agree completely. There is no end to the rationalizations for being a rude jerk; esp with arrogant kids. There are wackos, and then there are people who think differently than me. Some people eventually understand that there is a difference. As for the jerks, they never learn.

 

[Pengwuino]

I agree completely. There is no end to the rationalizations for being a rude jerk; esp with arrogant kids. There are wackos, and then there are people who think differently than me. Some people eventually understand that there is a difference. As for the jerks, they never learn.

Well i was talken about wackos as in people who you can't convince that they are wrong no matter how many facts you use when they use no facts at all.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Okay no problem. I was referring to people who use this to attack anyone they disagree with.

 

[Pengwuino]

Yah, that's just stupid. If you don't agree with someone, just tell them what you know to be the facts and if they can't deal with it, fart nad run :D

 

[Dayle Record]

Well, keep your sure grip on the wheel, there, Math Is Hard, I will let you know if they succeed in insulting me. I am by my nature insular, so insults tend to break up on the outer reef, and come to me as delicious wavelets, frothy, with foment refined into brighter or duller sparkle depending on the character of the day.

 

[hypatia]

I can see where wacko could be changed to bothersome. Because they can be upsetting to deal with. And knowing how to deal with them is a part of life regardless of the title you give them.
And we've all run across them now, haven't we? The question is ..how do you deal with it?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Why are you so haunted by wackos? If you mean religious people that go door to door, treat them like sales people and just say no thank you. If you mean some random person who approaches you, walk away. If its a friend, lose the friend. Is this really so hard to figure out?

 

[Pengwuino]

Why are you so haunted by wackos? If you mean religious people that go door to door, treat them like sales people and just say no thank you. If you mean some random person who approaches you, walk away. If its a friend, lose the friend. Is this really so hard to figure out?

I think I am the only person left on Earth who hasnt had a door to door religious person come to my door.

 

[K.J.Healey]

I think I am the only person left on Earth who hasnt had a door to door religious person come to my door.

They came to my door once but i was in the middle of something that was really important. It was mormons/LDS's and I actually really wanted to talk to them and find out what they had to say. I wish they'd come back at a time when I wasnt busy. Oh well.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I always used to invite them into talk. My feeling was that if they were willing to go door to door to, by their beliefs save our souls, I would do them the courtesy of listening. Being a Christian myself I admire them for their dedication.

 

[Dayle Record]

Take their wackiness to an extreme logical conclusion, if they don't get it the first time, take another train of their thought to its extreme logical conclusion, do it until they get it. If you really want to engage wackos then you have to be willing to go wacko with them. Once they are comfortable, then take them beyond their wildest dreams, and see if they really are invested in their flawed logic. Once this ceases to entertain you, disengage.

This is what I actually do with people that I consider to have a flawed operational ideation going, if they want to engage me. I only play crazy long enough to take the conversation to where I want it to go.

Once the Jehovahs Witnesses came to my door, I was pleasant but firm, yet one of them chose to start pushing me about whether I believed in God, or that the bible is the sole word of God. He was not going to let up, so I just went a couple of steps beyond his expectations, by telling him that oh yes I believe in God, I believe that God is in the water, and that when I shower, God runs all over my body, and I am one with God. You know, that ended his engagement, immediately; especially with the Marilyn Monroe vocal styling that went along with the little play.

He demanded that I believe in God, but only in his way. Well this other way caused him to back down my front steps in shock, awe, and horror. Yes indeed, as if they had personally seen the devil, or at the very least Jezebel, they were gone without so much as a good day, or amen.

 

[Overdose]

Most of the people that you'll come across who you may well label wackos are just misguided, short-sighted, or inexperienced. Which we all can be from time to time! therefore i really don't see the point in belittling people by calling them 'wackos'. There is of course the other rather unnerving option that they may actually be in possesion of the truth and its you who is misguided, but that requires quite a deal of humility and maturity to grasp.
The poster of this thread odviously has a bit of growing up to do...

 

[chroot]

My roommates and I were visited by two mormons in nice jackets on a day that we just happened to be helping move someone into the house. Since all the doors were open, they pretty much just walked into the house and started saying hello to us. No one knew them, but they acted as though they had been welcomed into the house, so each of us mistakenly thought one of the other roommates invited them over.

So... we handed them boxes. They spent the next hour or so helping us move stuff, and no one knew who the heck they were.

When they were still around after we finished moving, they finally started talking to us about religion. They even took out their little name tags and clipped them back on their jackets. We quickly thanked them for the help, but asked them not to come back, and helped them out the door.

- Warren

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Those were the MIB. It's the Mormons!

So, were they acting out of generosity or working potential customers?

 

[Dayle Record]

Those young Mormon people who dutifully go out, are that nice. I can't believe you guys used them to move, and then kicked them out! They are all someone's children, all great kids, just doing a difficult job. Their families shoulder the cost of their missions. I live among the Mormons, they are really nice people. Sometimes the politics aren't too fun, but sometimes they are inspired. I had an American values teacher in high school, his name was Gunn Mackay. He became a US Representative and was a staunch humanist Democrat. After he was in office, I and my best friend would go to visit him down at the Capitol in Salt Lake. He put his feet up on the desk and continued to mentor the two of us. I went to visit his grave a couple of days ago, up in the mountains, on a little peninsula in a reservoir, east of Ogden Utah.

Mormons are a microcosm, same amount of heroes, same amount of whackos, but typically a very nice group of people to live among.

 

[chroot]

I can't believe you guys used them to move, and then kicked them out!

We didn't "use" them. They offered quite willingly, and we took them up on it. We didn't even know that we didn't know them. And what would should we have done? Converted to Mormonism to thank them?

Mormons are a microcosm, same amount of heroes, same amount of whackos, but typically a very nice group of people to live among.

I don't doubt it. They can also lift their own body weight in other peoples' personal belongings.

- Warren

 

[Ivan Seeking]

And what would should we have done? Converted to Mormonism to thank them?

Yes, at least.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Two words here. Spell Checker, or Chubby Checker if you like the twist.

My new favorite quote!

And I'd have to agree. This thread is a bit silly.
I know plenty of people that aren't very bright or have strange ideas about "the way things are". They're mostly very nice people. The only point where I am more critical is with prospective mates and even then I wonder if I'm being too egotistical.
Which reminds me of my last run in with a "wacko". I went on a date with a girl that said she was interested in conspiracy theories and so forth. I didn't realize that she actually believed most of them. She was still very nice though, and it's not often that you get to go on a date and talk about the Illuminati.

 

[ray b]

if christians debunk their religion as that is the root problem

but I do remember when
continetial drift, 03 holes, and global warming were thought hippy BS
and couldnot be true

and there are men trying to rule/control the world
they just arenot very good at it

one of the biggest is called the GOP

 

[godzilla7]

No ones being derogatory, I'm nuts myself and some of the things I believe are tenuous at best there just opinions and are as valid as any other opinion; what anyone believes is their belief and they have every right to do so, no ones saying otherwise, but haven't we all bumped into people we thought were a little of the beaten track or odd, or just a bit strange, I don't think we walk away thinking what an idiot? We think strange person, odd views, and we file it away under amusing anecdote.

We all have our peculiar slant on people, does that make us bigots, no, just human beings, a bigot is someone who derides people which they consider to be somehow inferior for whatever reason, it's subjugation, and its precisely what you are doing by assuming this thread somehow labeled people as inferior; not its intention, and is it light hearted? well I guess that depends on your sense of humour, which I hasten to add, does not label or categorize you in any way, even if you don't happen to have one
sorry just my attempt at humour, just kidding.

I think the phrase physician heal thyself springs to mind, you have judged people without knowing there intent? Id think about that if I were you.

you seem to have some education in social sciences? That begs a few questions? Really think about it...

 

[misskitty]

I think I am the only person left on Earth who hasnt had a door to door religious person come to my door.

Believe me, you don't want them to! My community has a group of Jahova's Witnesses that go door to door with all their information and such. They are so bothersome attempting to force their religion on people in my community. What's worse is they are persistent and can't be reaosned with. The only way we could get them to stop visiting us was by telling them that if they came onto our property and bothered us one more time, we were going to call he police file a complaint, as well as charges of trespassing. They haven't been back since.

I'm not saying ALL Jehova's Witnesses are like that. Because they're not. I know some very wonderful people who follow that faith and they think its bad people do that. However the Witnesses that are in my community are that way.

 

[misskitty]

I always used to invite them into talk. My feeling was that if they were willing to go door to door to, by their beliefs save our souls, I would do them the courtesy of listening. Being a Christian myself I admire them for their dedication.

Most of the time, these people are great people and they have interesting things to say. I applaude them for their persistance and dedication. But when they start coming to your door telling you you're going to rot in hell because you weren't saved because you wouldn't convert to be a Witness. Then it gets to be annoying. I too am a Christian. However I have no patience for people who do that.

 

[misskitty]

I have to deal with wackos everyday I go to school. It scares me how ignorant and radical some of my peers are. They have no idea of what's going on around the world because they don't care. When we try to have class discussions about the world they still feel the need to comment on things they know nothing about.

I think it is hilarious when I play with their brains. Hehehe, its a blast. Its funny to see how these people react when they speak so intensely on something they don't know about and you are knowledgeable in, how the longer the conversation persists the angrier and riled they become, while you sit there calm, cool and collected destroying their arguements.

 

[Chronos]

The difference between debate and disection is not always subtle.

 

[Janitor]

A few years ago a co-worker was all enthused about a so-called documentary he had seen on TV the night before. As he described it, humans dressed in surgical gowns were opening up some sort of dead alien creature who had the usual two arms, two legs, one head and so forth. Yeah, a big brainy-looking head on a stalk-like neck, so not anybody you would confuse for a human, but pretty much the sort of alien one might see on 'Star Trek,' from what I understood. My co-worker seemed genuinely peeved that my response was just to chuckle at the whole thing.

[You know, it's all the Air Force's fault. They have used their lasers to cut into crashed flying saucers, and they have removed the dead bodies and placed them in cold storage in Nevada. They get USAF doctors to perform autopsies, and they write reports on what they find. But the reports get classified "top secret," so that information barely trickles out into public. Your tax dollars at work, indeed. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore.]

 

[misskitty]

The difference between debate and disection is not always subtle.

This is true. Usually its a little bit of both. However it depends on the topic of moronic discussion.

 

[godzilla7]

I'd blame the media more than your colleagues, the amount of trite nonsense that passes for serious journalism is astonishing, it's all very well to gloss over the intricacies of a subject to make it more accessible to laymen, many publications do this, but when what you are reporting is based on dubious witness accounts and supposition you have to wonder why they bother.

Still Miss kitty, saying people aren't interested in the world around them is probably true, but then that's there choice, there's a lot of stuff going on out there, but allot of people aren't interested or have no reason to be interested in it. And anyway if their talking to you about any subject at all then their obviously interested about what goes on in the real world, no matter how far fetched their claims: set them straight, make 'em learn something or go with the flow, s'all good, people stop being ignorant when there faced with the truth; but then people like fantasy too, it makes this messed up world easier to bear

Ever noticed bar/pub conversation, starts of about serious events and issues and ends up later in the evening in a semi coherent ill informed rant about what you would do if you were president/prime minister, or a load of nonsense about nothing. I find this type of conversation as enjoyable if not more so than a furious debate about QM theory but then I do enjoy carousing

 

[Ba]

Yes, but sometimes its even scarier when they believe everything you say. I got to have a reputation in high school, I could say most things and people would believe me because I could give them arguements for it. It got to the point where I was more believable than most teachers, and sometimes I argued just for fun and people would believe me like saying that I could prove 1=0. I'm kind of wary of starting that kind of reputation again, but I got it because I picked my battles and also was never afraid to say I don't know.