On Qi Stephen Fry once said...

DTWD

DTWD

DTWD

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A line, a saying that you could tack on to the end of a point you were trying to make that made it very difficult for someone to disagree with you without coming across as an idiot.

Can anyone remember what it was? It was one of those things that I always wanted to remember but never could.

I will just point it wasn't a recent episode, probably a good few years old.
 
LOL in it's essence it was something like that, but Stephen Fry said it in such a way that was far far more subtle and classy.
 
And thats a fact

or

But thats just my opinion

Can't disagree with facts, and stuff you have a opinion on is usually arguable.
 
Was it not something about having kids? As in if someone makes a point and you disagree with it, they say "you don't have children do you?" or am I thinking of something else?
 
I do recall something like that in an episode, but it's not the one I am thinking about. It looks like I need to book some serious time with Dave to find it.
 
DTWD said:
LOL in it's essence it was something like that, but the script writers wrote it for Stephen Fry in such a way that was far far more subtle and classy.
Click to expand...

Fixed it for you!

pseudointellectuals riding on good script-writers! Just like unfunny comedians here and across the pond that employ (some over a dozen!) writers for their comedy shows every evening (Jay Leno anyone? Jonathan Ross perhaps?).

Stephen Fry et al are presenters. 99% of what they say on TV is scripted, not a result of their own intellect. Some started as comedians but very quickly turned into presenters and very few have the laurells to stand up on their own. Most, if not all, the evening comedy tv shows with presenters in US had to stop during the writers' strike some time ago. So much for the healiner's 'talent'.

Can people stop putting them on pedestals?
 
kgi said:
Fixed it for you!

pseudointellectuals riding on good script-writers! Just like unfunny comedians here and across the pond that employ (some over a dozen!) writers for their comedy shows every evening (Jay Leno anyone? Jonathan Ross perhaps?).

Stephen Fry et al are presenters. 99% of what they say on TV is scripted, not a result of their own intellect. Some started as comedians but very quickly turned into presenters and very few have the laurells to stand up on their own. Most, if not all, the evening comedy tv shows with presenters in US had to stop during the writers' strike some time ago. So much for the healiner's 'talent'.

Can people stop putting them on pedestals?
Click to expand...

Stephen Fry is very clever and I would wager that he is much smarter than you or I. Just because most presenters have been chosen for their looks and style, there are still plenty that have got the job based on merit.

Also, anyone who uses "you don't have children do you" as an argument is an idiot and simply cannot provide a reason for their viewpoint.
 
Although I do agree with you about most presenters, I believe Mr Fry has the chops to come up with his own words when required to do so. So the story goes that although he does use an Autocue he frequently goes awol from it.

But I did originally say "said" so it didn't require fixing anyway :-P :D
 
Vonhelmet said:
Well, it can be a very succinct way of getting to the point of a discussion.
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Its generally used by parents as a get out of jail free card when they can't explain their position or rationale. Fair enough, some discussions have no right answer but I have rarely heard it used other than to cover up a lack of an argument on someones behalf.
 
kgi said:
Fixed it for you!

pseudointellectuals riding on good script-writers! Just like unfunny comedians here and across the pond that employ (some over a dozen!) writers for their comedy shows every evening (Jay Leno anyone? Jonathan Ross perhaps?).

Stephen Fry et al are presenters. 99% of what they say on TV is scripted, not a result of their own intellect. Some started as comedians but very quickly turned into presenters and very few have the laurells to stand up on their own. Most, if not all, the evening comedy tv shows with presenters in US had to stop during the writers' strike some time ago. So much for the healiner's 'talent'.

Can people stop putting them on pedestals?
Click to expand...

While you're correct for 99% of presenters, you're way off the mark with Stephen Fry. The guy is s walking encyclopedia and extremely witty. Yes, the stuff on QI is written for him - but don't let that fool you.
 
I don't know what he said. But as someone else said, ending a sentence with "in my opinion" is hard to argue with (except for fact). Another way to end a conversation/debate is just to say "you might be right" even if you don't agree with the person.

I love Stephen Fry. He is seriously funny, seriously smart, and he said "happy birthday to GNU":

http://www.gnu.org/fry/

What's not to like? The guy is not only funny, but he has serious geek cred!
 
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