Not So Clever

Jargonistic: Nonsensical, incoherent, or meaningless talk.

Hahaha. I recall all of those childish fights I had with my friends when we were younger. One, they didn't make sense at all, and two they were for everything but important things. They used to go like this: "You're stupid. Oh yeah. Well you are more stupid." Pathetic isn't it? Well that's what tends to happen a lot of times when we are in an argument and you're out of clever retorts and ways to snap back at your opponent. This not only happens to young naive children that don't know how to argue, it might also happen to grown up me. In chapter 20 Heinrichs teaches us about snappy and astute comebacks when we are out of thought. He might have not realized that his tips might tip the other way and make his readers fools out of themselves. 

According to Heinrichs these figures of speech will "arm you with systematic thing and prefab wit so you never find yourself at a loss again" (Pg. 208). This techniques are very cliché, but somehow they work. Rather than mumbling idiotic retorts and losing the battle. Nevertheless, this can come the other way, and rather be portrayed as defenseless and foolish. For instance, the "speak-around" technique, which "substitutes a description for the proper name" (pg. 210) may be wrongly interpreted and  be something like my innocent argument above.  Likewise, this is very common. For example this past weekend I watched a lot of TV to relax and take a break from school. I opted for watching The Simpsons, one of my favorite shows that make me laugh a lot. I found this priceless argument between Homer Simpson and the Alien Kang: 

Homer: You, one-eyed, two-timing (beep, beep)! I'm gonna (beep)!
Kang: Oh yeah?! Well (Beep) you, hyperbolic parabaloid! (bleep) yo mama!

It is kinda funny, and it is the perfect way to exhibit how Heinrichs tips might go wrong. They are a great way to win arguments, but they are also a great way to make you look like an idiot. Hopefully you make a good arguer and don't make yourself the former.