Anywhere you go, I'll follow you...

[venta]

Hmmm.

This morning, on the way to work with ao_lai, I observed that there was a left-hand, leather, but sadly not laceless, boot sitting by itself on the pavement. He remarked that the Bedstead Men were probably to blame.

When I'm talking (or occasionally when I'm writing), I tend to sling in random lines of songs, poems, bits of film dialgoue. Not for any real reason, I just like playing with words. And if you do that, it's nice to know that the people you're talking to have picked them up.

Not, as some people would have you believe, because I derive a feeling of smug intellectual superiority in knowing that my friends have read the same book as me, or what have you. More because it's like the mental equivalent of snap.

But, if you hear someone quoting something, there remains the problem of how to make it known that you noticed. Now, ideally you do this by making some witty remark, which adds something to the conversation, and isn't exclusive of people who didn't pick it up. So, what if there isn't such a remark, or (more probably, in my case :) you can't think of it ?

Do you just let the thing go ? If someone's worked a reference in particularly cleverly, it seems churlish not to acknowledge it... maybe I just lack the wit for the game :)

Comments

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

This sort of stroking is one of the most important bonding behaviours I have with my friends (since we'd never talk about messy stuff like feelings). So if a giggle wasn't sufficient, or could have been faked, I'd simply say 'Ah, Flanders and Swann' or whatever was appropriate.

(Inevitably, particular references accrue entertainment value beyond the amusement of what's being cited. So it's worth making an allusion that you're certain will be recognised, even if it's hackneyed. Consider this a deterrent to 'faking' old friendship just by collecting cultural reference points.)

I love 'the mental equivalent of snap' to describe this. I must try using it in conversation to see who else reads you.

[metame.livejournal.com]

There's always a fine line between 'repeat while funny' and 'repeat until funny'. The former being one of the finest humourous devices, the latter an increasing irritation. Very fine line indeed.

As to the original question - a witty riposte or continuation is indeed ideal, but I think a grin, a nod, even a hand raised in thanks is easily enough for 'yup, got that, cheers'.

PS still haven't seen Clones. Hurray! That sand line is dreadful. Might have worked in Dune though... Sand Worm to Paul maybe?