Handling the Great Civil Insult
One of the most biting insults is to say, “I can’t believe you don’t know that.”
It’s polite enough to be civil, which makes it that much more painful.
Your response — feel no shame. And never, ever let a challenger off the hook. If someone makes a claim you did not know, feel no shame in asking the challenger to offer you research material. That makes you the reasonable one if they refuse to back up their claims.
Like Thomas Sowell profoundly quoted [I forget who he quoted ...] “In today’s world, no one knows 1% of everything.”
I am not a full-time political researcher, make no pretense of being one, and yet — since I’m not ashamed, I keep asking questions without fear of losing faith in others.
Sowell: ‘Messing With the Constitution’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3382347/posts