When people lie, they usually lie about the future, becoming far too committed. The sequence, Looking good. ... Another one! ... All right. ... Thank you! ... helps you listen and respond to ideas for the future without overcommitting yourself. They help you hold down your "future debt."

"Looking good" suggests you have a smooth running engine and large horizons even after someone tries to control your future. For instance,

(a.) "I just got out of the hospital." "Looking good." [Offers hope without requiring you to manufacture or invent false interest]

(b.) "Have a nice night!" "Looking good." [After a date that didn't pan out, fosters hope without expressing disappointment]

From time to time, a person will discover a subject that really gets to you. For instance, as a taxi driver, I've seen murders, been robbed, and had some hair-raising experiences. Once you tell another person one of these "adventure stories," they feel as if you should deliver a sequel every time they see you. "Another one!" acknowledges repeated jabs into those kinds of open wounds. For instance, upon seeing you the next day, they say ...

"Were you shot?" "Another one! ... There you go, then. Another thrill."

"All right" is the work horse of all time. For instance,

"How was your weekend?" "All right." [You throw whatever emotion you want to into your response] "Just all right?" "Fear not."

"HOW ARE YOU DOING, SIR? I AM YOUR HOST." [Busboy in a cafeteria, surprising you] "All right. ... Have mercy!"

"How are you doing, Richard?" "All right. ... Just fine."

"So, how's it going?" "All right. ... Pretty good."

"How goes it?" "All right. ... Good enough."

"How are you? — you and the lads?" "All right. ... Still the same." [Also, Haunted, We'll soon find out, Charmed, Thrilled, Delighted, Distracted, Engaged and Satisfied]

"Cool!" "All right. ... Even if it's bad for you."

"Thank you!" allows you to listen attentively to suggestions without getting into false excuses, painstaking elaboration, or blunt discourtesy. For instance,

(1.) "If you just send me your E-mail address, I will send you a free CD and my book!" "Thank you!"

(2.) "What? What did you say?" [From a venting police officer] "Thank you! ... I know it's against the rules."

(3.) "Where are your dogs? I read about you in the newspaper. Aren't you the Night Cabbie? Why don't I see you down at the Aquatic Park any more? How was your New Year?" "Thank you! ... Another one! ... Thank you! ... Another one! ... Another one! ... All right." [Allows you to breath while they pepper you with one question or observation after another]

(4.) "What's your story?" "Thank you! ... I can't be serious." [You don't have to work for someone just because they can tack a question mark onto three words]

(5.) "Is that your dog?" "Thank you! ... Can you tell?" [Lord knows where this question was leading]

(6.) "Sweet dreams!" "Thank you!" [People's dreams are their own business; also, who gives anyone the right to pretend they're your mother?]

(7.) "Your friends are weird." "Thank you!" [This is baiting, pure and simple]

(8.) "What advice are you going to give your teammates?" [Before the Super Bowl] "Thank you! ... Stay focused." [Sportscaster banter]

(9.) "What did he say?" [Translate Japanese for me] "Thank you! ... Very subtle."

(10.) "Where did you get this?" [The salmon-rolled cream cheese hors d'oeuvres you made] "Thank you! ... There's just no comparison."

(11.) "You are so beautiful! How did you get so beautiful?" "Thank you! ... You take a shower in the moonlight." [This is the kind of rhetorical question adults ask children, usually leaving them speechless; that may not be so bad; better speechless than precocious]

(12.) "I think you should do more art.""Thank you! ... Sooner or later, right?" [Here we go ...]

(13.) "Do you ever sell your art?" "Thank you! ... If we can." [... the business manager ...]

(14.) "How is your art selling on eBay?" "Thank you! ... It's meaningless to someone of my stature." [... the stakeholder ...]

(15.) "There was an attempt but the graphics could be so much better." "Thank you! ... It's just like music – You have to build up a following." [... the critic-at-large ...]

(16.) "That's life!" "Thank you! ... The more you know, the less you need." [... the philosopher ...]

(17.) "Pervert!" "Thank you! ... Like yourself!" [... the castrator ...]

(18.) "How much does a polar bear weigh?" "Thank you! ... I don't know ... but it breaks the ice!" [... the jokester ...]

(19.) "Are we ever going to get married?" "Thank you! ... I'm waiting till I can." [... the college tuition! ...]

Finally, under intense cross-examination, in which a police officer or attorney peppers you with trick questions, which usually refer to slightly different frames of reference, here's how you can defend yourself [Sort of. You're not really supposed to say certain things to a boss, police officer or officer of the court; these are mainly ideas to keep in mind, rather than actual suggestions:]

(20.) "Well, now, see? That's another story." "Thank you! ... Eight things at once."

(21.) "Well, now you've told four different stories." "Thank you! ... Way before that."

(22.) "Well, you see, now? That's a different story you're telling now." "Thank you! ... Let's forget it! – I can see you're not serious."

Their favorite trick is to get you to tell a story backward, which always changes the frame of reference. They'll ask, for instance, "What happened before that?" or "Why did you do that?" and when you tell them the truth, they'll say, "Well, now you're telling a different story."

The main thing to realize is that police officers believe the first story they hear almost eighty percent of the time. Whenever they hear facts which vary from their first impression, they try to intimidate you. This is why smart people try to get their story in first, then keep their mouth shut and get capable representation. [Further reference: Pataphysics in Berkeley - "Pataphysics is the science of the realm beyond metaphysics; or, Pataphysics lies as far beyond metaphysics as metaphysics lies beyond physics – in one direction or another." Also, "Pataphysics is the science of the particular, of laws governing exceptions."]

Live, live live! Breathe, breathe, breathe! Thank you! ... Thank you! ... Another one! Let other people leap into the coffin!

HINT

CUE

TOOL

CLINIC

TOPIC

You get the idea they're trying to control you.

evening, hospital, night

Looking
good.

stargate26

affectation

Stick to your plans.

President, transmission

Another one!

stargate31

suggestion

You have to go slow.

cool, electricity, how, right, true, way

All right.

stargate17

beating around the bush

Don't ever worry about something you can't change.

art, attempt, did, different, dreams, graphics, life, married, pervert, polar, story, your

Thank you!

stargate12

pulling rank

5th Element

—It's mystical.

Now, remember Patty? For some reason, she still doesn't have on any clothes. She's a fish in the bowl, and in this condition, the only way she can defend herself is with words ...