The SOCRATIC APPROACH is most successful when confronting
the ignorant. The "socratic approach" is what you call starting an argument
by asking questions. You approach the innocent and simpy ask "Did you
know that God’s name is Eris and that He is a girl?" If he should answer
"Yes." Then he is probably a fellow Erisian and so you can forget it. If he
says "No." then quickly proceed to:
THE BLIND ASSERTION and say "Well, He is a girl and His name
is ERIS!" Shrewdly observe if the subject is convinced. If he is, swear him
into the Legion of Dynamic Discord before he changes his mind. If he does
not appear to be convinced, then proceed to:
THE FAITH BIT: "But you must have Faith! All is lost without Faith!
I sure feel sorry for you if you don’t have Faith." And then add:
THE ARGUMENT BY FEAR and in an ominous voice ask "Do you
know what happens to those who deny Goddess?" If he hesitates, don’t tell
him that he will surely be reincarnated as a precious Mao Button and
distributed to the poor in the Region of Thud (which would be a mean thing
to say), just shake your head sadly and, while wiping a tear from your eye,
go to:
