Technicalities

April 05, 2011

Ah If Only I Was Adept At the Quick Retort

A few weeks ago I was at a function manning a table. Various people from our group had done this over a two day period. That day it was my turn. Oh goody.

It's not my type of thing at all. I can be nice and polite, but basically it is a form of sales and thus I am not at all comfortable with it. When ever I do these things there is always one guy (always a guy) who has to walk up and go on the attack - so to speak. My problem is, they always take me unaware and I can never find a great or even good reply. That makes me even more angry than the original idiot comment(s) they make.

So this guy wanders up, looks at our banner, looks at me and says... "So why should I join your group?" Belligerently. I guess he wanted to see if I would jump up and immediately defend the group from... what? Him? Right. Sure thing. I'll get right on it...

He thought he was being very clever. I guess in some ways he was, I couldn't retaliate in that situation and he knew it, the jerk. I sat staring at him and all I could think was... "No you really can't tell him "we don't want you to join our group". No, don't do it. Even if he really does deserve it."

The problem was, while I was stuck trying not to say that, I couldn't think of anything else.

In the meantime one of the other guys from our group came back to the table. Those two proceeded to talk about various things involving work, computers, yada yada yada. After a while I finally figured out he was bored and looking for a conversation. That was his way of starting it. Good grief he was at least 65 years old - not six. In all these years he hasn't learned a single interpersonal skill. I was wondering if he was even employed.

How I wish I could come up with some withering retorts that sound unexceptional on the face of it. I guess it isn't meant to be.

Oh well, here's another pic of the horse from over the weekend.

He wouldn't like the guy either if they met. Heh.

Posted by: Teresa in Ho-Hum at 09:12 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 395 words, total size 2 kb.

1 "He wouldn't like the guy either if they met."

That's not a bad line. Reminds me of Groucho's famous answer to an invitation to join a country club: "I won't belong to any organization that would have me as a member."

Don't worry, T - the list of those who thought of a great line later, after it was no longer needed, is a long one indeed.

Posted by: Rev. Paul at April 06, 2011 03:42 PM (0DZhf)

2 What a beautiful capture!! Stunning!

I never think of witty retorts until well after the incident. Sucks.

Love Groucho's quote... but I'd never remember it...

Posted by: pam at April 06, 2011 06:16 PM (i3Kno)

3 Well, there's always:

"I don't know.

I can tell you what our group does, but after that, you'll have to decide for yourself whether you should join and why."

Learned that one from a city bus driver in Vegas, who would say something along these lines to riders who would ask "is this the bus I want?" or "Should I be on this bus?".

Most entertaining bus ride ever, by the way.

Posted by: Harvey at April 10, 2011 07:40 PM (pTueD)

4 Well, the longer version of the story (the part I left out)... while he was being belligerent, he was holding forth on how all the places he goes he sees the same presentations and he wants to see something "new and different". I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling him I couldn't read his mind and therefore had no idea what he would consider to be "new and different". You'll notice at no time did he ever volunteer to join us and help create better meetings... no he'd like those handed to him so he doesn't have to be bothered.

Posted by: Teresa at April 10, 2011 10:25 PM (xE2iU)

5 I have had that happen. I'm not very good at sales. My standard line is, "You shouldn't" and I stand there smiling sweetly. Let them walk off... I don't want trouble makers in any group I'm involved with.

Posted by: Bou at April 13, 2011 08:47 PM (wEvt/)

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