Do you try to lead squirrels and rabbits in the same logical manner?
Seriously, some people are followers and some are leaders. She is not a leader, and there are many that will never be cajoled or convinced to do the obviously logical thing. So don't torture yourself.
I used to have a girlfriend that tended to answer, "Oh nothing" when I asked her what she was thinking. I thought she just meant "nothing important." Only later did I realize that she really was in mental neutral most of the time!!! Some people just don't think!
Depends on distance and whether or not they're sitting still or running and how badly I want to eat it... ;-)
I know what you mean though. Ever since I moved to the UK and observed the behaviour of sheep- lot's of sheep here- I've learned a lot about human nature.
Seriously though, you should have seen the look of horror on her face when I said that given Germany's size and wealth if we send 250,000 soldiers to the Gulf Region they (the Germans) should send 80,000 or no less than 60,000 (they're a quarter to a third of our size). "Ach du lieber Gott!" she says.
Our argument got me nowhere, but I think I scored some major points. She pointed out that this war on terrorism was "Our Affair" and that the Germans aren't involved or have a stake in it. I came back and reminded her that Germany was where the most dangerous terrorists go to seek shelter, money and training- all on the back of the German tax payer.
And I finally got to use it! We argued about gun control (because of their recent shooting "episode" they're tightening gun laws). She used the tack about how if people only have knives there is only so much damage they can do. I reminded her that on 9/11 several thousand people were slaughtered and the weapon was a handful of knives.
I scored a lot more goodies too.
A retired school teacher, she's an intelligent woman and she usually has the upper hand because when I get all worked up my German gets clumsy. But I think on this occasion arguing with me she experienced what some of her countrymen did back in the Forties when Patton came rolling through. She didn't bring sufficient ammo to the fight when she came this time. I imagine she'll think long and hard before she engages me in a political discussion again! Maybe it'll be a long time before her next visit- hehehehe! Inlaws are great aren't they?