In such a case, it's again necessary to drop the matter. Finally, if through some regrettable oversight on your part some statement of yours is actually refuted, admit it at once and make no attempt to excuse yourself or muddy the waters. The rest is technique. Let me give just a few indications of the more specialized tricks of the gadfly trade. Dealing with attempted irony and sarcasm .
Many posters have a weakness for what they take to be hard-hitting irony or sarcasm.
In response to such, never dispute or protest, but simply pretend to take their statement at face value. The heavier the intended irony or sarcasm, the more anxious its author will be to have it understood that he is being ironic or sarcastic, and after some grumbling about people's limited appreciation of irony or sarcasm, he will resume the argument, his intended knock-out blow having been rendered ineffective. Dealing with assertions about your state of mind . Instead, again apply the simple but effective technique of deliberate misunderstanding. These are difficult questions, and I think it's quite understandable that people get a bit confused.