| > | | | | to a man he is wrong? Is that going to make him |
| Dave Barry said, "I argue very well. Ask any of | | | | like you? Why not let him save face? He didn't |
| my remaining friends. I can win an argument on | | | | ask for your opinion. He didn't want it. Why argue |
| any topic, against any opponent. People know this, | | | | with him? You can't win an argument, because if |
| and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign | | | | you lose, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it. |
| of their great respect, they don't even invite me." | | | | Why? You will feel fine. But what about him? You |
| This self-disclosure prompted Curious George to | | | | have made him feel inferior, you hurt his pride, |
| check around to see just how closely the | | | | insult his intelligence, his judgment, and his |
| quotation aligned with reality. This article brings | | | | self-respect, and he'll resent your triumph. That will |
| you the inside story. | | | | make him strike back, but it will never make him |
| "I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining | | | | want to change his mind." |
| friends. I can win an argument on any topic, | | | | CG just smiled at Barry and calmly said, "Hey |
| against any opponent. People know this, and steer | | | | Dave, taking it outside would do nothing but make |
| clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their | | | | us feel inferior, insult our intelligence, our |
| great respect, they don't even invite me." -- Dave | | | | judgment, and our self-respect. We are diplomats, |
| Barry | | | | not parking lot brawlers. Besides, it's raining out |
| This self-disclosure prompted Curious George | | | | there; and although you're already all wet, I'm |
| (CG) to check around to see just how closely the | | | | definitely not; and I plan to stay that way." On |
| quotation aligned with reality. The first step was | | | | that note, CG quietly walked away. |
| to check with a couple of Barry's remaining | | | | It was a few days later and Barry was hanging |
| friends. Let it suffice to note that a second step | | | | out at the library, by himself, of course. The |
| was not possible, due to an inability to complete | | | | friend thing really had gotten way to expensive to |
| the first. CG confronted Barry, "As it turns out, | | | | bother with anymore. He was just randomly |
| no one will admit to being your friend, remaining | | | | flipping through first one book and then another |
| or not." To that, Barry turned red in the face and | | | | when he ran across the words of Caskie Stinett, |
| said, "I for sure have three remaining friends. I | | | | "Diplomat: A person who can tell you to go to hell |
| used to have more but it has gotten to where | | | | in such a way that you actually look forward to |
| three is all I can afford to buy. Your not finding | | | | the trip." He smiled to learn that it was Bisaac |
| them is hardly my fault. Never attribute your | | | | Goldberg who said, "Diplomacy is to do and say |
| incompetence to mine. Remaining friends aside, I | | | | the nastiest thing in the nicest way;" but the smile |
| can still win an argument on any topic, against any | | | | became a chuckle when he discovered these |
| opponent; and if you want to push the point, we'll | | | | words from the famous Anon. "Diplomacy: The |
| just take it outside." | | | | business of handling a porcupine without disturbing |
| CG was tempted to get it on with Barry but | | | | the quills. |
| remembered Dale Carnegie's advice, "Why prove | | | | |