Havamal Snippets 122: Never bandy words with a stupid fool!

Advice for those who waste their time debating with the unwise on the Internet: never bandy words with a stupid fool!  I'm sure we've all experienced what it's like to debate/converse with people who are either: incapable of understanding what you are trying to say but don't want to admit it (for whatever reason); or have no interest in understanding what you say, and just want to 'win' the debate by attrition.  It's infuriating!  So take the advice of the Havamal and don't waste your time on them.  Either win the argument 'physical' methods (e.g raising your voice, physical contact etc), or 'status' based methods (e.g. shaming, name calling etc), because those or the only two options available when dealing with someone who doesn't respond to 'Reason'.  Or alternatively walk away.


122
Ráðumk þér Loddfáfnir
en þú ráð nemir
njóta mundu ef þú nemr
þér munu góð ef þú getr
orðum skipta
þú skalt aldregi
við ósvinna apa  
 
I advise you, Loddfafnir,
to take advice;
you would benefit, it you took it,
good will come to you, if you accept it:
[6] you must never
[5] bandy words
with a stupid fool --


[End.]