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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!
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#1
If You Don't Want To Get Tested, Don't Apply
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#2
Morning Coffee vs. Morning People
#3
"Markets Unable To Adapt To New Generation Of Consumers"
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
#5
Meirl
#6
Bill Bur Is A Legend
“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!
#8
Who Orders Small Coffee Anyway?
Brian Bennett 3 years ago
Yeah-sock-it-to-em beautiful. Excellent without using any swear words!
#9
Cry Me A River That Flows 5 M/S²
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.)”
#10
Stealing The Rainbow
#11
I Choose You, Bunny!!!!
#12
Education Is Vitally Important, After All
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
#14
So Easy To Say
Hello it Smee 3 years ago
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.
#15
They're With Him, Alright...
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.”
“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.
#16
Climate Change Is Not Real Guys!!!
#18
Careful What You Say
#19
Better Hope His House Doesn't Catch On Fire!
#20
He Makes A Good Point
Raven Sheridan 3 years ago
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!
#21
She Got Played By Her Own Words
Everything_Fubar 3 years ago
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.
Andy Acceber 3 years ago
Omg, my tears for the whites, straights, and men runneth over. Please continue to tell people who experience institutional racism, homophobia, and sexism how difficult it is to be you. /s
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DDmaybeandor 3 years ago
Feminists fight for EQUALITY. A great way to test if a phrase supports equality is to substitute the opposite sex in the phrase and test it out. Her post is sexist. If you have questions as to how that could be, please try the method outlined.
April Pickett 3 years ago
Yeah, there are good guys out there, BUT a lot of men are guilty of heinous crimes against anyone not white male. Those that have the most toys are usually white males. They have a racist and discriminatory mindset.
Bird lover 3 years ago
These are not feminists. feminists just want to not get raped and to be paid and treat the same as men.
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#22
Unlimited Power
Seonag Udell 3 years ago
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.
#23
This Is Genius
#24
If You’ve Read The Bible? Name 10 Plagues
#25
Fishing For A Burn
#26
A Newer, Healthier Brain
#27
Repeat After Me...
#28
They Don't Even Bother Hiding The Fact That The Gop Is Bought And Paid For Anymore
#29
He Got Cremated By A Fish
#30
Time Is Relative... And Mine Ain't Rich
#31
On Insta From An Lgbtq Post From Reddit
cybermerlin2000 3 years ago
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.
#32
Imagine Losing At Your Own Game
#33
Liking-Old-Pic-Shaming Back Fired...
Tiny Dynamine 3 years ago
It's amazing that people will choose to get offended because someone liked something of theirs. How low is humanity sinking this century?
#34
A Lot To Unpack Here
#35
No Lies Were Told
#36
Great Observation, People Who Make A Lot Of Money Don't See The Problem
Grumble O'Pug 3 years ago
Funny how some working class fool got into the business of defending billionaires.
#37
What’s The Point!?
#38
Waterproof Your Valuables
#39
Not Really Sure If This Belongs Here But Still
#40
What An Absolute Chad
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What do you think ?
Daniel Marsh 3 years ago
Please don't confuse "witty" with "vicious" just because some people (Dorothy Parker, etc.) were both. In many cases, if they weren't so damned hyper-partisan and you happened to agree with their partisanship, you'd just write them off as bitter, vulgar, nasty shitheads. (The funniest thing about the Fish at Pets Mart post is that there is a Fish at Pets Mart account!) In some cases, the burnt are nasty so there's some fair play, but too often the burns amount to, "I hate this person because I disagree with them, so I'm going to act even more hateful!" That's a small mind, not a sharp one.
John Baker 3 years ago
Some of these aren't bad, but for the most part I've heard wittier comebacks on a grade school playground.
William Shen 1 year ago
oh shut up your just jealous that you can't meet the intelligence of the comebacks
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Dorothy Cloud 3 years ago
There's a lot of unintelligent remarks & unintelligent comebacks on here! Sometimes it's difficult to tell one from another!
Aahzmandus Pervect 3 years ago (edited)
No need to beat around the bush. Just f**k off, you right wing scum.
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Daniel Marsh 3 years ago
Please don't confuse "witty" with "vicious" just because some people (Dorothy Parker, etc.) were both. In many cases, if they weren't so damned hyper-partisan and you happened to agree with their partisanship, you'd just write them off as bitter, vulgar, nasty shitheads. (The funniest thing about the Fish at Pets Mart post is that there is a Fish at Pets Mart account!) In some cases, the burnt are nasty so there's some fair play, but too often the burns amount to, "I hate this person because I disagree with them, so I'm going to act even more hateful!" That's a small mind, not a sharp one.
John Baker 3 years ago
Some of these aren't bad, but for the most part I've heard wittier comebacks on a grade school playground.
William Shen 1 year ago
oh shut up your just jealous that you can't meet the intelligence of the comebacks
Load More Replies... Dorothy Cloud 3 years ago
There's a lot of unintelligent remarks & unintelligent comebacks on here! Sometimes it's difficult to tell one from another!
Aahzmandus Pervect 3 years ago (edited)
No need to beat around the bush. Just f**k off, you right wing scum.
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