The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]


There’s Always At Least 2 Sides To Every Argument …
October 9, 2014, 6:10 am
Filed under: Comment

So I recently came across this quote from Winston Churchill …

Of course, it’s a classic him.

Smart, political with a cheeky bastard cherry on the top.

When I showed it to a mate, he said I could learn from Churchill’s advice because when I don’t like someone, I’m not just likely to tell them to go to hell, I’ll offer to drive them there.

To be honest, I was a bit put-out by this.

I know I can be a bit of a bull in a China shop at times, but I don’t think I’m THAT bad. At least not these days.

Anyway, a few minutes later, the same friend sent me this …

… along with a note that said:

“This is why you don’t need tact”.

Even though you could argue this comment was even ruder, I found this response much more acceptable – and of course the reason for that is because he’d just reframed my “talent” [sarcasm] in a way that not only superseded my weakness [tact] but meant I didn’t have to put myself out to improve myself because what I could do, was better.

Sort-of.

Yes, I know that is a shit attitude to have – let alone admit – but we all do it.

Whether it’s reframing our lack of hair as a sign of raw masculinity or saying overweight people have a better sense of humour, it’s not just planners who have an ability to reframe things, so it’s worth remembering there will always be someone who can offer a valid counter argument so stop worrying about whether your views or ideas could alienate people and embrace what you believe because polarisation means you’ve said something that has caused people to think, which is way better than spouting stuff that no one thinks is worth even commenting on.

Which, now I come to think about it, is quite a good example of reframing right there.


30 Comments so far
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I hink your mate was being sarcastic.

Comment by John

oh no he fucking wasnt.

Comment by andy@cynic

though campbell is living fucking proof you dont have to be witty to be sarcastic, you just need to be a bastard.

Comment by andy@cynic

Has the letter “t” broken on your keyboard John?

Comment by DH

youre right campbell, youre a soft fucker these days. you used to be alright but now you make the archers look like the sex pistols. your only saving grace is youre not got as beige as auntie george, but theres still plenty of fucking time.

Comment by andy@cynic

At least it took George to have 3 kids to get to his shade of beige.

Comment by DH

So let me get this straight, we are using George as the definition of ‘nice’ and we’re saying ‘nice’ is a euphemism for bland and beige?

[I know it is, but I’m trying to reframe your insults into something positive, in-keeping with this posts theme]

Comment by Rob

I’m hanging on to the fact that there is only one thing worse than being talked about, not being talked about.

Comment by George

You don’t need tact if you’ve won a Clio.

Comment by Jerry Seinfeld

Correct. You just need ego.

Comment by DH

You are the absolute opposite of that Churchill quote Rob. But you look just like him.

Comment by DH

Gold

Comment by Northern

Day 2 of posts and I already wish you were back on holiday. Good news is you will announce you’re having a 5 week China holiday in a few days.

Comment by Billy Whizz

Well the kid is born in 8 weeks or so and we may be coming to the end of this blog … so rejoice while you can.

Emphasis on ‘may’ … be coming to the end, don’t get your hopes up too high yet Billy.

Comment by Rob

You have carried on from where you started yesterday. Good news. Though it took until the penultimate paragraph before I was sure of that.

Comment by Lee Hill

just for the record campbell, i comment and youve never fucking said something thats made me think. except why the fuck did go into business with you. my kind, charitable heart puts me into all sorts of fucking shit.

Comment by andy@cynic

I only come here because the DA said it would stop me reoffending. He was wrong, it makes me want to kill.

Comment by Billy Whizz

I’m doing a science experiment.

Comment by DH

Boredom. Except is it makes me more bored.
(Just joking Rob)

Comment by Bazza

so youve climbed out from under your fucking rock have you. how many iPhones did campbell ask for? how many did you give him? when the fuck do i get a bastard freebie?

Comment by andy@cynic

20.
0.
Unlikely.

Comment by Bazza

wanker.

Comment by andy@cynic

I didn’t get a thing from tight-ass Baz. But I bought one … the 128gb one … but the 6 is too big for my dwarf hands, so god knows who would bother with the 6+.

Comment by Rob

I only come here to clear my brain of drivel.

Comment by Rob

Just 8 weeks, blimey .Plenty of time to squeeze in another 5 holidays.
Hope your better half is okay .

Comment by Northern

Cheeky sod.

Jill is good but she wasn’t when I announced I was buggering off for almost 3 weeks without her. Ha.

Comment by Rob

Ouch.
And only joking – but I thought you might have re-framed the holiday observation as planning not as a desk job

Comment by Northern

God you’re good.

Comment by Rob

I remember churchill saying his off the cuff remarks were planned days in advance.
Which is sort of like me with propositions, I hate writing the damned things, so collect all sorts of stuff so I look I just thought of stuff I’ve actually thieved from something or other

Comment by Northern

Me too. I have hundreds of thoughts/ideas/expressions that I’ve captured over the years that I always revisit … for inspiration, if nothing else.

It’s not cheating, it’s efficiency. (Reframed)

Comment by Rob




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