Laughter? It happens so rarely. It's usually giggly teenaged girls or Beevis & Butthead types passing in a car.

Last year, I attended a party where one of the guests had a reputation as a put-down artist. She tried all night (imagine every rude comment and stupid question we've discussed on this list all coming from one person).

My friend who threw the party kept trying to rescue me from her, but I was well-prepared having attended the "XMarks Smart Answers to Dumb Questions" bootcamp (this forum).

She left frustrated -- especially when her daughter commented on how good I looked and suggested to her father that he'd look good in a kilt.

I think most of the negative stuff is in our heads. The rest is having a confident attitude -- and having snappy comebacks for those very rare occasions when someone is being genuinely malicious.