# Proof by Name Dropping
A: What do you think about objection X?
B: Well, BigNamei, BigNamej, and BigNamek agree with me. LittleNamei might agree with you, if only they were that silly.# Proof by Absentee Belittlement
A: What do you think about objection X?
B: Person C, who is not here to defend themselves, thinks that. They are silly. You are silly.# Proof by Humility
A: What do you think about objection X?
B: You state that so forcefully. I could be wrong. You seem so sure of yourself. That is silly.# Proof by Humiliation
A: What do you think about objection X?
B: Have you read Book Z, or Book Y, even Book W?
A: Well, no.
B: That explains why you asked such a question. Sit down silly person. —Twenty Special Forms of Rhetoric (Speculative Grammarian)
That is silly.
How wonderful! It’s funny: your site was my first stop after registering for this year’s MLA, and I think 98% of MLA post-panel Q&A interactions could be categorized as one of those twenty special forms. Great find, Dennis.