a pissant

a pissant, as defined by H. Lowe Crosby in Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle:

"A pissant is somebody who thinks he’s so damn smart, he never can keep his mouth shut. No matter what anybody says, he’s got to argue with it. You say you like something, and, by God, he’ll tell you why you’re wrong to like it. A pissant does his best to make you feel like a boob all the time. No matter what you say, he knows better."

anybody know any of these?

anybody know how to deal with one of these effectively?

my boyfriend lives with one and I'm about to be forced out out nice-mode. I can feel it.

 

"Sometimes you gotta choke a bitch." -Mother Teresa

 

sound advice

 

I've found derision is the most effective way, neither hostile nor passive aggresive. Just remember they're a dick, stay calm, and smirk as you call them an ass.

 

Ask them how much body weight their brain accounts for

 

When I've been around people like that, no matter what they say,no matter what they argue,no matter how often they argue, I always immediately say"Yeah,You're right" and drop it.Refuse to argue and agree with them and soon you''ll see a weird look on their face.They become very unsettled and realize something isn't quite right but don't know how to deal with this new developement. You have to be sincere---and it gets hilarious the more you do it. See what I mean? It's a routine.It's a waste of energy to argue with dicks like that. It's more fun to drive 'em right up the wall.

 

Yeah yeah yeahing is the most valuable form of derision. Tranquility in the face of a dick is inner peace. :biggrin:

 

sound advice all around

I don't think I handle it well at all. I generally get sucked in, and either get bored and give up or blow up and tell him to get fucked.

 

I can't pick an opening joke:

Some would probably say I'm one =P

-or-

That doesn't describe Corky Romano well at all.

One of my friends is definitely a pissant. Even when you catch him in a contradiction or lie, he just lies and finds some way to be "right". It gets pretty painful. Lately, I've been avoiding him. That doesn't help you though.

 

You: You disagree with everything I say.
Pissant: NO I DON'T!

 

I have a friend who'd argue with a stump. I drive her batshit with the 'yup,you're right" method. She gets confused--it's worth a mint.

 

Getting sucked in is the dicks game. Play yours. Master derisive laughter.

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/pjzcxhlpsl--Bender-Laughing-at-other-peolpe's-misfortunes

 

I do that when people start proselytizing too.

"Oh yeah, died for my sins. Cool."

 

Good one! I'll have to remember that.

 

well I got drunk last night.

and a discussion between the three of us (boyfriend, pissant, myself) about the Sherlock Holmes movie turned, predictably, into a sermon about Hollywood and why he is intellectually above .. everything.

I just smiled like I was on the verge of laughing the entire time he was talking, and when he was expecting a response, I just told him he was right, and poured myself another drink.

great success.

 

I know one. Except he is horribly wrong in everything he tries to argue.
(which makes it extra annoying)

 

Cool.

But that movie does look pretty bad =P

 

it wasn't my favorite, I got kinda bored.

but it's just the principle of the thing. he interrupted my boyfriend just about every time he opened his mouth, and I was drunk and irritated.

 

i'm a pissant. all i need is someone to roll their eyes at me and tell me "shut up, kc, not now." it works. i just like to argue, but i don't MEAN to be rude.