Useful advice from Bertrand Russell:

[struggle4progress]

I counter the devotees of the Great Pyramid by adoration of the Sphinx; and the devotee of nuts by pointing out that hazelnuts and walnuts are as deleterious as other foods and only Brazil nuts should be tolerated. But when I was younger I had not yet acquired this technique, with the result that my contacts with cranks were sometimes alarming

I intend to follow this advice. Should anyone tell me that (say) Hugo Chavez or the FBI stole this election, I shall argue pleasantly but diligently instead for some equally-plausible alternative villain, such as the Interstate Commerce Commission

[Jeebo]

1. If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, ...

... baffle them with bullshit.

I saw that somewhere once, don't remember where for sure, it might have been on a bumper sticker, years and years ago. But I think that's the point you and Bertrand Russell are trying to make, re-stated so that more simple-minded individuals like me can more easily understand it.

-- Ron

[Towlie]

2. Sounds like the basis for his teapot orbiting the Sun: Nobody can prove that it's not out there.

 
←

That was his response to those who argued that he couldn't prove God doesn't exist.

In The Demon-Haunted World Carl Sagan used an invisible dragon that lived in his garage. I like to argue that if you can prove Godzilla doesn't exist then I can prove God doesn't exist.

[ExciteBike66]

3. Nope, it's McConnells all the way down...

[angstlessk]

4. But Brazil nuts are the hardest to crack

is there a message there too?