I just want to take a few minutes to sing the praises of the ad hominem retort.
Abandon all reason, ye who enter here! Let us no longer concern ourselves with trifling matters of “fact” or “knowledge.” Let us respond to well-crafted arguments with irrelevant observations about our opponents’ hairstyles, their olfactory presence or the moral fortitude of their mothers. Observe, gentle reader:
Them: “I think this project needs some reworking. It just seems a little off target to me.”
You: “Oh, you do? Well, your FACE seems off target to me.”
Them: “Say what you will about President Bush, but I think his economic policies are sound.”
You: “That’s an interesting observation. For a moron.”
Them: “Are you going to eat that pickle?”
You: “I don’t know. Is your mom done with it yet?”
See how satisfying that is? Much better than, say, “I’ll have to take a longer look at the research and get back to you,” “I completely disagree with that assertion,” or “plaid, thanks?”
You can find more of the interesting word usements I structure* on Apple.com.
Read my article, Better Writing Through Design, on No. 242 of A List Apart.
Pick up issue 176 of .net magazine to read my thoughts on creating outstanding web copy.
Watch a video of the Design Eye for South By panel at SXSW Interactive 2008. Or view the slide deck at DesignEye.org.
*With apologies to Harris K. Telemacher.