# 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.
Representing the Humanities at Accepted Students Day.
The daughter opens another show. This weekend only.
After learning of his AIDS diagnosis, artist Keith Haring created the work, "Unfinished Painting" (1989),…
Seton Hill students Emily Vohs, Elizabeth Burns, Jake Carnahan-Curcio and Carolyn Jerz in a scene…
Inspiration can come to those with the humblest heart. Caedmon the Cowherd believed he had…
View Comments
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.