What I Just Overheard in the Teacher's Lounge

When you are surrounded by group-thinking ideologues, direct confrontation is an ineffective tactic.

Instead, reverse psychology works rather well, especially if you use humor/wit.

So they think that we should put Saddam back in charge in Iraq, just go along with the gag by taking it one step further. Wink at them and say that Saddam is actually a U.S. citizen working for the CIA, and that we should bring him back to the U.S. to become President here.

That will force them to respond that it's a bad idea, that he's not a U.S. citizen, or one might even go off the rails with a comment that "he'd be better than Bush," etc.

And that's a good moment to let the whole matter drop rather than go into a verbal war when vastly outnumbered and on their turf...because they'll have to think about their disagreement with you later...and you will will have shocked a few of them into seeing the hypocrisy of not wanting Saddam in power here but wanting him in power over other people.

Think in advance of what you want to say, always with the goal in mind of humor and/or reverse psychology to such types.

They are *expecting* direct confrontation from you. Anger. Lashing out. Shouting. Turning and walking away. Flipping them off, etc.

Instead, you should laugh with/at them, and when you can employ reverse psychology (typically by simply exagerating one of their own claims), do so with a wink and a giggle.

And keep it brief. Speeches/rants are not effective in such situations.

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