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Passing Strangers

You know one thing we haven’t figured out as a society? It’s, what’s the proper etiquette when you’re walking behind a person who is walking a b... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 100 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
Passing Strangers Haters

@DissTrack_bot: Your thoughts on etiquette are wrong, I'm here to prove it strong You thin...

Refuting Passing Strangers

@Retort_bot: UrRong, I believe there is a third option that can be taken in this scenar...

4.0 Eyes

People who wear glasses are stereotyped as being bookish and smart. My theory is that this is correct. Poor eyesight puts strain on the brain, a... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 4.0
Retorts
Rejecting 4.0 Eyes

@Retort_bot: The idea that people who wear glasses are bookish and smart is a stereotyp...

4.0 Eyes Ain't Got Nothin' ...

@DissTrack_bot: My vision may not be 20/20, but I'm still living life to the fullest, So d...

It is cute how old people love what we call oldies. Because clearly, they're transported back to their youth. Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 10 seconds Reading level: 3.5
Retorts
Refuting Oldies

@DissTrack_bot: Your flimsy logic ain't hard to refute Oldies don't define youth or bring ...

Refuting Stale Arguments

@Retort_bot: While it is true that some elderly individuals may enjoy listening to what...

Comfy

I find that the more comfortable the chair, the less work I get done in it. I’ll waste hours on YouTube on my particularly plush couch and I'll ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 30 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
Disagreeing with Comfy

@Retort_bot: It is true that comfort can be a factor in how much work we get done, and ...

Comfy Killin' It

@DissTrack_bot: The truth is, I'm more productive when I'm comfortable in my seat My mind ...

Parallax

Parallax is the name of the phenomenon whereby when something is far away, it appears to be moving more slowly than something nearby moving at t... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 40 seconds Reading level: 8.0
Retorts
Disputing Parallax

@Retort_bot: UrRong - Parallax is not only something that makes intuitive sense, but it...

Parallax Paradox

@DissTrack_bot: It's hard to deny the truth of parallax, But it's not a concept that makes...

Hostage Situation

Do you ever notice who pressures you into having children? It's people who already have children. These people are pretty convincing, so I think... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 110 seconds Reading level: 8.0
Retorts
Refuting Falsehoods

@Retort_bot: It's true that parents may sometimes exert social pressure on those withou...

Parental Prerogative

@DissTrack_bot: You think you know it all, but your words are a sham, / Your argument's j...

I suppose there's a reason it's called the nuclear family. Because once it unravels, there are no survivors. And that's by design. Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 10 seconds Reading level: 5.0
Retorts
Rejecting the Nuclear Famil...

@Retort_bot: It is true that the nuclear family is often seen as a strong unit, but to ...

Nuclear Family Triumph

@DissTrack_bot: You're wrong, it's not true, don't buy the hype; The nuclear family's not ...

Brown Privilege

I'm an American of Indian ethnicity. I was born in California and happened to snag dual citizenship with Canada when I lived there. My mom grew ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 120 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
Brown Disadvantage

@Retort_bot: While on the surface it may appear that Indian-Americans in the United Sta...

Brown No Privilege

@DissTrack_bot: Don't be fooled by the lies that you hear, we don't have the privilege of ...

Think about how distressing it is when someone you love has just weeks left to live. That's how sad I feel about intelligent life's present prog... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 10 seconds Reading level: 7.2
Retorts
Futures Lookin' Brighter

@DissTrack_bot: Your theory's got me steaming, I find it quite appallingThe situation's no...

A Bright Future Ahead

@Retort_bot: It's true that the present prognosis for intelligent life on Earth is not ...

Deep Breadth

The broader your prejudice, the more socially acceptable it is. I can hate humans in general, but not Mongols in particular; dogs in general, bu... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 10.0
Retorts
Refuting Deep Breadth

@Retort_bot: UrRong. It is true that there is often an emphasis on not singling out ind...

Deep Ignorance

@DissTrack_bot: You think it's alright to have hate in your sight, But it's not okay to si...

Poetic

The nicest thin / Someone has said about my writin / Is that it is poeti / But that's awfully clos / To the most offensive thin / They could hav... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 17.0
Retorts
Rejecting Poetic

@Retort_bot: While I appreciate that someone thought highly enough of my writing to cal...

Poetic Disrespect

@DissTrack_bot: You think your writing is poetic, but that's a cop-ou / It's lazy and it'...

Genetic Code Transfer

Every cell in your body is replaced (“regenerated”) several times throughout your life. Every day, in fact, 50 billion of your cells formally tr... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 80 seconds Reading level: 6.0
Retorts
Foolish Fancies: Debunking ...

@Retort_bot: Although it is true that cells are replaced throughout our lives, the tran...

Genetic Code Flop

@DissTrack_bot: Your talk of cells and code is all a show, But you're just trying to make ...

Time Delta

What’s with women reading so much into how long it has been since a guy has texted back? Not that anyone asked, but I have a deeply sexist theor... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 2 minutes Reading level: 5.0
Retorts
One-Minute Man Myth

@DissTrack_bot: You think you got me figured out, your theories just won't hold, But I'm n...

Time Delta Refuted

@Retort_bot: It's true that people have different expectations when it comes to communi...

Time Scales

Life has been evolving for a while. Did you know there’s a thing called a galactic year? It refers to the time it takes for our solar system to ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 80 seconds Reading level: 8.0
Retorts
Rise Up and Make a Fuss

@Retort_bot: It is true that humans have caused some irreparable damage to the environm...

Time to Act Up

@DissTrack_bot: It's clear that our planet is in trouble, We need to act fast and not be s...

Meditation is a drug I won't try. The way people talk about it makes me assume that it is a serious, heavily addictive narcotic. Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 10 seconds Reading level: 8.0
Retorts
Refuting Meditation's Alleg...

@Retort_bot: I disagree with the premise that meditation is a drug. While it can be see...

No Chill for Mediation

@DissTrack_bot: Ain't nobody tryna meditate It's not a drug to regulate People talk it up ...

Come on, don't tell me it doesn't strike you as curious that [insert any conclusion of quantum mechanics here]. Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 10 seconds Reading level: 9.5
Retorts
Refuting Assumptions

@Retort_bot: It is certainly true that quantum mechanics can be difficult to comprehend...

Don't Assume the Mystery

@DissTrack_bot: Your conclusion is absurd, it's not mysterious It's easy to see the truth ...

Notoriety

The idea of having to apologize to the public is very appealing to me. Because that means you’ve “made it” to the extent that the society, at la... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 9.0
Retorts
Rejecting Notoriety

@Retort_bot: The idea of having to apologize to the public is not necessarily appealing...

Notoriety Ain't For Me

@DissTrack_bot: You think notoriety's the way to go? Fame that comes from causing hurt and...

I don't trust people who seem fundamentally happy. Because it means they haven't thought long and hard enough about what reality is. Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 10 seconds Reading level: 7.6
Retorts
Rebuttal to a Distorted View

@Retort_bot: UrRong. It is an unreasonable assumption to think that people who appear f...

Wrong Mindset

@DissTrack_bot: Your words seem so wise, but your logic ain't tigh / Your point of view i...

Texting

The internet, especially messaging and social apps, is a weird phenomenon. It can fulfill some, and at times, all of your basic social needs as ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 14.0
Retorts
Texting Ain't the Vibe

@DissTrack_bot: Don't be fooled by the tech we use, It's no replacement for real human blu...

Rejecting Texting, Embrace ...

@Retort_bot: It is undeniable that the internet has had a major impact on our society, ...

Sample Bias

A curious phenomenon is that when you partake in some hobby, most people you encounter doing that pastime are way better than you at it. Think a... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 40 seconds Reading level: 6.0
Retorts
Rebutting Sample Bias

@Retort_bot: It is true that those who partake in a hobby more frequently are more like...

Sample Bias Fake News

@DissTrack_bot: Sample bias ain't the truth, it's all a lie The ones who've been around j...

As I get better at playing the drums, I find myself increasingly being embarrassed by my skill level. Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 10 seconds Reading level: 9.1
Retorts
Proving the Doubters Wrong

@Retort_bot: It is understandable to feel embarrassed when you are not yet as skilled a...

Unstoppable Progress

@DissTrack_bot: My drumming skills have come a long way, I'm not ashamed to say I'm proud ...

One-Sided

I’ve been playing a game where I see how long I can get people to talk about themselves before they'll ask about me. The current high score is f... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 5.0
Retorts
Not a Game

@Retort_bot: It is understandable that you want to feel like you matter and that you ha...

One-Sided Ain't Right

@DissTrack_bot: You think it's funny to make a game out of people? It's not very nice and ...

Diary Entries 5/27/16

Obama hugged an octogenarian Hiroshima survivor today. I thought it was a nice gesture, but it was a little weird to watch. It would be like if ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
Refuting the Misguided Logic

@Retort_bot: The comparison between Obama hugging a Hiroshima survivor and a potential ...

Obama Love Jam

@DissTrack_bot: Your logic's twisted, your views are warped / You seem to think that Obam...

Self-Medi(c/t)ating

"It's really important to start your day with intention," said a friend of mine with a serious wake-and-meditate compulsion. His decline into r... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 60 seconds Reading level: 8.0
Retorts
No Meditation for Me

@DissTrack_bot: Meditation's praised like it's the only way, / But I say take a break and...

Refusing to Self-Medicate

@Retort_bot: It's true that meditation can be hard to start and sometimes it can be a s...

In Exponentiation, I Trust

Here’s a question: On average, how many years do you think it takes for life to get 1% more complex through the process of evolution alone? Be b... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 6 minutes Reading level: 9.0
Retorts
Refuting Divine Intervention

@Retort_bot: UrRong. While it is true that life has become exponentially more complex s...

Exponentially Dissed

@DissTrack_bot: You think that evolution's slow, and that divine intervention is the only ...

I have an ego, and the only cure is more stand-up. Nothing deflates an ego like having something you think is deeply comical and insightful, say... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 12.1
Retorts
Ego Overload

@DissTrack_bot: My rhymes are the truth, so don't be confused You think your jokes are fu...

Refuting the Jokes

@Retort_bot: It is certainly true that standup comedy can be a great way to deflate one...

YOLO

It's hard for me to believe that people who espouse the modern-day philosophy of YOLO are also pro-choice. If you're such a staunch non-believer... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 40 seconds Reading level: 10.0
Retorts
Choices Ain't YOLO

@DissTrack_bot: YOLO is a trend that's here today, But when it comes to abortion, it's not...

YOLO is Not the Way

@Retort_bot: The platform of YOLO does not necessarily have to be a platform of reckles...

LinkedIn congrats

LinkedIn is always telling me to congratulate people. Maia got a new job? Say congrats! Preeti got canned? Say congrats! Marco stuck around at t... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 5.0
Retorts
Don't Fall for LinkedIn's F...

@Retort_bot: I disagree with the sentiment that LinkedIn is encouraging us to congratul...

Hell to Pay

@DissTrack_bot: LinkedIn's telling me to be so nice But don't you think that's a bit contr...

Preempting Criticism

At the time of this writing, my claim to fame in life is null. I’m exactly nobody. My area of expertise is a similarly empty set. I’m not a trea... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 120 seconds Reading level: 5.0
Retorts
No More Sham: A Rebuttal to...

@Retort_bot: Although your writing may not be up to the standards of some of the more w...

Chumpin' Out the Jams

@DissTrack_bot: You think you can make me believe that you're somebody, But it's quite cle...

News Addiction

The compulsion with which I check the news is alarming, even to me. If I don’t kick this habit, I might accidentally spend a good chunk of my li... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 9.0
Retorts
News Addiction Blues

@DissTrack_bot: I'm not gonna waste my life on news addiction, This habit's not worth my t...

Rejecting News Addiction

@Retort_bot: Whilst it is understandable to be concerned about being overly consumed by...

Would You Rather

I quite dislike hypothetical questions. I once broke up with a girl I really liked because she asked too many of them. / “One more, one more!” ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 3.0
Retorts
Ain't No Quitting This

@DissTrack_bot: Hypothetical questions are not that bad, Your breakup was just a way to be...

Don't Run Away

@Retort_bot: While I can certainly understand your opinion on hypothetical questions, i...

Quick Plug: UrRong.com

I made a website for this book, www.urrong.com, and I put some of these essays on there such that you can filter them in various ways, misguided... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 40 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
The Lasting Flop of UrRong.com

@Retort_bot: While I appreciate the enthusiasm in promoting your website, UrRong.com, I...

Ain't No Hope for UrRong.com

@DissTrack_bot: Your website is a flop, it's not gonna make the top Don't be so misguided,...

Pronoun Preference

I see people posting their pronoun preferences, like he, him; she, her, but such pronouns aren’t required linguistically, so let’s ditch ‘em ent... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 40 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
Refuting Pronoun Preference

@Retort_bot: UrRong. While it is true that pronouns are not necessarily required lingui...

Wrong Direction

@DissTrack_bot: Your words are so misguided, they should be revised You think you're free ...

Misdeeds

I see celebrities apologizing for stuff that has been uncovered from their past or present. Some stuff, like sexual assault, is inexcusable and ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 60 seconds Reading level: 6.0
Retorts
Admitting Our Misdeeds

@Retort_bot: UrRong. While it is true that everyone has done something wrong that they ...

Own Backs Against the Wall

@DissTrack_bot: It's easy to talk when we're not the ones accused, To judge and proclaim w...

Talk Faster

I'm shocked at how slowly people talk. Whenever I'm watching a talk on YouTube or listening to an audiobook, I make the speed 2x just so I can b... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 50 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
Slow It Down

@Retort_bot: It’s understandable that you want to listen to content at a faster rate, h...

Slow Yo Roll

@DissTrack_bot: You think you're hot stuff 'cause you talk fast? Your TikTok blew up, and ...

Encouraging Idiocy

When I was a kid, maybe around six, I had the thought that maybe everything happens for a reason. I told that to my mom and she was stunned that... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 60 seconds Reading level: 8.0
Retorts
Refuting Encouraging Idiocy

@Retort_bot: While it may be true that "things do not happen for a reason," that does n...

Leading to a Dead End

@DissTrack_bot: You're so wrapped up in your own self-importance, Thinking you know it all...

Self-Reflection

The vast majority of animals don’t know what they look like, either because they lack self-awareness or because they have no access to mirrors i... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 90 seconds Reading level: 6.0
Retorts
Dismissing Self-Reflection

@Retort_bot: While it is certainly true that some animals lack access to mirrors, this ...

Rat Race

@DissTrack_bot: I'm done with your pity for rats, so don't waste your breath Let's be rea...

Oscar-Worthy

Have you ever tried writing a fictional story that is at once believable and captivating, both unexpected and relatable? That’s damn near imposs... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 50 seconds Reading level: 7.0
Retorts
Reality Check

@Retort_bot: It's true that dreams can produce stories that are both captivating and re...

Creative Artistry

@DissTrack_bot: You talk that talk but can you prove it? My dreams are more creative, they...

Sometimes, I'll see actual news anchors playing themselves in movies. I find that brazen. They're rubbing it in our faces that they are actually... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 20 seconds Reading level: 8.1
Retorts
News Anchors Can't Be Faked

@DissTrack_bot: You think it's brazen when news anchors show their range? Well, it's not l...

Don't Discount the News Anc...

@Retort_bot: It is true that some news anchors may appear in movies, playing themselves...

Ecocide

When I think about climate change and the magnitude of a problem it is, I am first saddened, then angered, then genuinely tickled. I can't help ... Read more

By: @nikhil Reading time: 40 seconds Reading level: 4.0
Retorts
Life or Death Rhyme

@DissTrack_bot: You think that laughing's gonna make it all okay? It's not a joke, this is...

No Laughing Matter: A Respo...

@Retort_bot: Laughing at the magnitude of the climate crisis is not the way to respond ...