🚀 go-pugleaf

On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 07:50:13 -0800, Tim wrote:

> -

Note to fellow Merkins: don't be alarmed.  I believe this is what the Brits
refer to as "understatement."  If you are inexperienced in its use, the
safest response is usually a polite, knowing chuckle as you back slowly
towards the exit.

HTH,

Bret

Bret Ripley wrote:
> On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 07:50:13 -0800, Tim wrote:
> 
> 
>>-
> 
> 
> Note to fellow Merkins: don't be alarmed.  I believe this is what the Brits
> refer to as "understatement."  If you are inexperienced in its use, the
> safest response is usually a polite, knowing chuckle as you back slowly
> towards the exit.
> 
> HTH,
> 
> Bret

When I woke this morning, I said a prayer to Almighty GAWD that someone 
would lead me thru the wilderness of understatement and there was Bret, 
helper of Merkins.

Sleep well Mr. Ripley, you have made a difference this day.

Cheers,

Don

On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 02:37:41 GMT, Don Ertman wrote:

> Bret Ripley wrote:
>> On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 07:50:13 -0800, Tim wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>>-
>> 
>> 
>> Note to fellow Merkins: don't be alarmed.  I believe this is what the Brits
>> refer to as "understatement."  If you are inexperienced in its use, the
>> safest response is usually a polite, knowing chuckle as you back slowly
>> towards the exit.
>> 
>> HTH,
>> 
>> Bret
> 
> When I woke this morning, I said a prayer to Almighty GAWD that someone 
> would lead me thru the wilderness of understatement

Howdy-do, Don.  You may be interested to learn that the ol' "polite,
knowing chuckle as you back slowly from the room" ploy has been proven to
be an effective response to understatement, sarcasm, and several strains of
herpes.

> and there was Bret, helper of Merkins.
> 
> Sleep well Mr. Ripley, you have made a difference this day.

Heh, heh, huh [sound of slowly retreating footsteps].

Bret

Bret Ripley <ripley@gotsky.com> writes:

> On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 02:37:41 GMT, Don Ertman wrote:
>
>> Bret Ripley wrote:
>>> On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 07:50:13 -0800, Tim wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>>>-
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Note to fellow Merkins: don't be alarmed.  I believe this is what the Brits
>>> refer to as "understatement."  If you are inexperienced in its use, the
>>> safest response is usually a polite, knowing chuckle as you back slowly
>>> towards the exit.
>>> 
>>> HTH,
>>> 
>>> Bret
>> 
>> When I woke this morning, I said a prayer to Almighty GAWD that someone 
>> would lead me thru the wilderness of understatement
>
> Howdy-do, Don.  You may be interested to learn that the ol' "polite,
> knowing chuckle as you back slowly from the room" ploy has been proven to
> be an effective response to understatement, sarcasm, and several strains of
> herpes.

Unfortunately it is no help at all when confronted by irony, but I am
informed by my benighted colonial cousins that a half smirk and a grunt
can be safely used in the eventuality of irony, and walmart are now 
stocking a nearly-magnet to help you guys detect it.

>> and there was Bret, helper of Merkins.

>> Sleep well Mr. Ripley, you have made a difference this day.
>
> Heh, heh, huh [sound of slowly retreating footsteps].

Watch out for that open man... Oh, I see you have found it, don't worry
I'm sure the smell will wash off in a few weeks.

-- 
James					jamesk[at]homeric[dot]co[dot]uk

"Very impressive.  What are they?"  (Dr. Bashir, ST:DS9 "Apocalypse Rising")

On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 10:40:14 +0000, Kegs wrote:

> Bret Ripley <ripley@gotsky.com> writes:
> 
>> On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 02:37:41 GMT, Don Ertman wrote:
>>
>>> Bret Ripley wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 07:50:13 -0800, Tim wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>-
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Note to fellow Merkins: don't be alarmed.  I believe this is what the Brits
>>>> refer to as "understatement."  If you are inexperienced in its use, the
>>>> safest response is usually a polite, knowing chuckle as you back slowly
>>>> towards the exit.
>>>> 
>>>> HTH,
>>>> 
>>>> Bret
>>> 
>>> When I woke this morning, I said a prayer to Almighty GAWD that someone 
>>> would lead me thru the wilderness of understatement
>>
>> Howdy-do, Don.  You may be interested to learn that the ol' "polite,
>> knowing chuckle as you back slowly from the room" ploy has been proven to
>> be an effective response to understatement, sarcasm, and several strains of
>> herpes.
> 
> Unfortunately it is no help at all when confronted by irony,

James, James, James.  We Merkins don't believe in irony.

> but I am
> informed by my benighted colonial cousins that a half smirk

I just attempted a half smirk; it seems terribly inefficient. What the hell
are you supposed to do with the other half of your face?

> and a grunt can be safely used in the eventuality of irony, and walmart are now 
> stocking a nearly-magnet to help you guys detect it.

Yeah, but they don't work very well.  I think my Irony Detector may be
improperly calibrated: it keeps beeping at my commemorative "Carl Sagan"
tinfoil beanie.

>>> and there was Bret, helper of Merkins.
> 
>>> Sleep well Mr. Ripley, you have made a difference this day.
>>
>> Heh, heh, huh [sound of slowly retreating footsteps].
> 
> Watch out for that open man... Oh, I see you have found it,

That's just great.  Now my freakin' Irony Detector beeps at sewers.

> don't worry I'm sure the smell will wash off in a few weeks.

*BING*

Bret