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Stepping up gives you one sense of accomplishment, but one-upping someone who’s clearly wrong is a whole other achievement. So this post is dedicated to those who didn’t stay silent when hearing false statements, fake news, or faulty arguments, but decided to cut the BS and do everyone a public service.

Thanks to the r/CleverComebacks subreddit, a community with 830k members that’s constantly growing, we have laid out some of the most razor-sharp comebacks. Scroll down, upvote the sharpest comebacks and be sure to check out our previous post on witty comebacks.

We also spoke to Abigail Paul, an actress, standup comedian and improviser who has given seminars on incorporating theatre techniques for purposes beyond the stage to schools, businesses and organizations all over Germany since 2001. Abigail told us how to improve our comeback skills, starting from learning to be better listeners. Tune in for the interview below!

#3

"Markets Unable To Adapt To New Generation Of Consumers"

"Markets Unable To Adapt To New Generation Of Consumers"

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Abigail is now busy launching a new organization for comedy and shows in Frankfurt called “English Comedy Frankfurt,” so be sure to follow her work on Twitter.

“The secret to any comeback is connection,” she said and continued: “If you are really listening (and connecting) with another person, you are taking them in fully, aware of who they are, the context in which you are dealing with this person.”

Abigail believes that we tend do this assessment unconsciously. “We aren't even always aware that we are always sizing up other people. This is too often because we are so focused on ourselves.”

#4

Kid Has A Bright And Shocking Future In Front Of Him

Kid Has A Bright And Shocking Future In Front Of Him

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#5

Meirl

Meirl

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Happy Quokka
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you are doing a good deed only as an advertisement 🤦‍♂️

“I teach the rules and principles of improvisation. We credit the improv guru Keith Johnstone with the term 'status' exercises and games, which helps us see things like status moves, and how to make a character in a scene have a higher or lower status. By working on this skill in a theatrical way, you also start to notice status 'wars' happening in real life. On the stage, it usually has the end effect of being comedic. In real life, it can go either way.”

#7

Some Good Luck!

Some Good Luck!

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PjandBolt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Michael Rosen is a legend. I'm so glad he lived despite having to deal with that awful experience

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#8

Who Orders Small Coffee Anyway?

Who Orders Small Coffee Anyway?

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Brian Bennett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah-sock-it-to-em beautiful. Excellent without using any swear words!

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Abigail argues that a great comeback feels great because it was earned. “It was spontaneous. The commenter was probably really listening. It was unique to that moment, set of people, situation,” she explained.

When asked how to make sure that your comeback doesn't sound mean, Abigail warns that “a comeback is not a clapback—which is generally sarcastic, but a clapback might be fun among friends.” Moreover, “Context of situation always matters. In working on status exercises in improv, we try to get people to see that the easiest way to raise another person's status is to lower their own. We see that in standup comedy too. Usually it works best if the comic is the butt of the joke, not the audience. (There are plenty of exceptions.)”

#11

I Choose You, Bunny!!!!

I Choose You, Bunny!!!!

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#12

Education Is Vitally Important, After All

Education Is Vitally Important, After All

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Caro Caro
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keith said it all. She is the most stupid together with that tomi twit.

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According to Abigail, “You needn't be too self-effacing for a good comeback, but if it can lift other people up, it usually works well and gains the speaker a laugh and cements the bond that says, we are in this together.”

Comebacks can be a useful communication tool, but Abigail argues that excellent listening skills are the most important thing. “Paying attention, making accurate observations about the people in the room, and how they feel—these are the tools that will make a comeback really shine,” she said.

#13

Other People’s Kids Is A Surprisingly Great Form Of Birth Control

Other People’s Kids Is A Surprisingly Great Form Of Birth Control

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#14

So Easy To Say

So Easy To Say

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Hello it Smee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother said he'd never put his kids on a leash-backpack before he had kids. Well after my 2-year-old niece booked it through the Tulsa zoo and wanted to pet the animals she was on a leash before noon.

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And when it comes to getting better at listening, Abigail shared a fun game to exercise. “Have a chat with someone, but you have to start your response with the last letter of what the person has just said to you,” she said and added: “For example, if person 1 says 'what was the best part of your day'—the response must start with Y from the word day.”

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“It might make for odd conversations at first, but it also forces you to really listen to the complete end of the person's sentence before you add in your own thoughts,” she concluded.

#19

Better Hope His House Doesn't Catch On Fire!

Better Hope His House Doesn't Catch On Fire!

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Ancsuri
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

universal health care is very good. Just Americans think ist something bad

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#20

He Makes A Good Point

He Makes A Good Point

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Raven Sheridan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In a pandemic, churches are NOT essential. Isn't God supposed to be everywhere? You don't need to go to a certain place or building to worship him or pray. You can do this from the safety of your own home. God gave you a brain, use it!

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#21

She Got Played By Her Own Words

She Got Played By Her Own Words

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Everything_Fubar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can men haters just not exist, that's all I ask at this point. Men are being demonized just as much as straights and whites these days. It's unreal.

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#22

Unlimited Power

Unlimited Power

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Seonag Udell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is it with this Ben Shapiro dude, like every time I see his name come up on BP thread, I know he's gonna say something ridiculously stupid or offensive.

WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ben Shapiro is a failed fast talking door to door salesman who debates with young people who really don't stand a chance against a guy who twists words and invents "facts" and "science" on the spot. But there are idiots out there who actually think that he's a terrific debater. But honestly, I think that if you say in public that your wife never gets aroused in your presence, your wiring needs an overhaul. https://www.ccn.com/ben-shapiro-wife-dap-brag-self-own/

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John Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandmother had a saying about guys like Benny. "If he knew half as much as he thinks he knows, he'd know twice as much as he does."

Lucifer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a dead cockroach in my garbage bin that exudes more intelligence than Ben Shapiro.

Bacony Cakes
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Said cockroach rather prefers scones. (source: https://youtu.be/A9bZxSkAaG4?t=54)

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Neil Bidle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In his *slight* defence, the phrase is technically incorrect, it's not "renewable" at all, solar is solar at that moment, you can't renew the sun later on when it runs out. Hydro-electric is the biggest con, creating electricity at high demand (and price) and then using it up later on (when it's cheap) to pump the water back up

Something
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What he's saying is technically correct but irrelevant. Like "guns don't kill people, people kill people" and "all lives matter." He's either joking or making a weird strawman argument.

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Gogo Gadget
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Steam power! Like what comes out of our ears when you say stupid s*** like this.

Radek Suski
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love people quoting physical rules without a slight understanding of these. That's said Ben is an idiot anyway.

Leodavinci
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How does someone say they don't understand science? Say things like Shapiro. Ben must be an oil supporter. Oil is useful for many things, but burning it (for any reason) isn't one of them.

Brian Bennett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Din dong bell you put Shapiro in the well. Lets try to keep him there!

John Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everything_Fubar, there are two kinds of conservatives: the really dumb ones, and the ones who are just smart enough to con the really dumb ones. Shapiro is the second kind. Guess which kind you are...

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Bella Sennei
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, and why didn't YOU look it up, Mr. Ben? (Tell me you're stupid without telling me you're stupid...)

William Shen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the first law of thermodynamics is energy cannot be created or destroyed but can transfer into other objects so no the first law of thermodynamics does not say renewable energy is not real most renewable energy is from wind and sun things that take energy and make it travel ben shapiro is the definition of those 13 to 14 year old edgy sigma male anti lgbtq russia supporter losers turned into a full grown adult who is so bad at arguing that he can only debate against 14 year olds.

elcee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

does this pic scream psychopath to anyone else? I see it every wk in my local paper, and it gives me the freaking w*****s

Lee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think he and his sister are some of the few younger farish right conservatives out there so they are the "new face" of whatever movement there is now.

John Topper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does anyone listen to him? Everything he says it's just dumber than the last thing. He's only famous for pissing off people with education past the third grade.

Linny H
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The posters "answer" doesn't answer Ben. It's the equivalent of saying " oh yeah, well you're dumb."

Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This tweet is more than 10 years old....surely there was better content in the last 10 years?

Prestigous Cactus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The real self-own here is digging up a 10 year old tweet just to be seen dunking on some ignorance

Ryan Deschanel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He is right about the fact that there is nothing such as a totally renewable energy... To the universe's scale. But when it comes to mankind, most are (basically, everything except gaz, oil and coal).

Dillon Hughes
Community Member
3 years ago

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Na ben is great you stupid libtard. This post didn't even saw anything wrong. Stupid libtards

Everything_Fubar
Community Member
3 years ago

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High key Conservatives on Twitter can say things that are just as dumb as the things high key liberals say sometimes.

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#23

This Is Genius

This Is Genius

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#24

If You’ve Read The Bible? Name 10 Plagues

If You’ve Read The Bible? Name 10 Plagues

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#25

Fishing For A Burn

Fishing For A Burn

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#26

A Newer, Healthier Brain

A Newer, Healthier Brain

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#28

They Don't Even Bother Hiding The Fact That The Gop Is Bought And Paid For Anymore

They Don't Even Bother Hiding The Fact That The Gop Is Bought And Paid For Anymore

BeerAndaBackpack , twitter.com Report

#30

Time Is Relative... And Mine Ain't Rich

Time Is Relative... And Mine Ain't Rich

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#31

On Insta From An Lgbtq Post From Reddit

On Insta From An Lgbtq Post From Reddit

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cybermerlin2000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how people think their boycotting something will single-handedly bring everything crashing down, when in reality they won't even show up as a statistic.

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#32

Imagine Losing At Your Own Game

Imagine Losing At Your Own Game

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Ara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It always pays to read right through the book before you try to review it.

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#33

Liking-Old-Pic-Shaming Back Fired...

Liking-Old-Pic-Shaming Back Fired...

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Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's amazing that people will choose to get offended because someone liked something of theirs. How low is humanity sinking this century?

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#34

A Lot To Unpack Here

A Lot To Unpack Here

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#36

Great Observation, People Who Make A Lot Of Money Don't See The Problem

Great Observation, People Who Make A Lot Of Money Don't See The Problem

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Grumble O'Pug
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny how some working class fool got into the business of defending billionaires.

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#38

Waterproof Your Valuables

Waterproof Your Valuables

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A Head
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does this person think that US currency dissolves in water? It can go through the laundry.

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#39

Not Really Sure If This Belongs Here But Still

Not Really Sure If This Belongs Here But Still

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