This is part 10 of a 12 week series where I explore the tactics of verbal cheap shot artists – people who can’t, or won’t use valid arguments to present their case, but instead resort to verbal cheap shots. To make sure you don’t miss a single article, be sure and sign up for my RSS ^[2] feed or subscribe by email ^[3] (both are free!) so you can get the freshest new articles! Check out my other posts in the Verbal Cheap Shots ^[4] category.

Once upon a time, a Bedouin was making his way across the desert with his camel. Night was fast approaching and he began putting up his tent to provide shelter from the bitter cold of the nighttime desert. His camel asked, “Master, can I please come inside the tent to stay warm?” The Bedouin said no and went inside to sleep.

All night long the Bedouin heard the camel shivering and loudly complaining about the cold night. The camel asked again, “Master, can I just put my nose into the tent to warm up?” Frustrated the master said yes and rolled over to go back to sleep. The Camel asked again, “Master, can I just put my forelegs into the tent? They’re freezing!” Again the master acquiesced. Then the camel said, “I have to put my back legs in as well, otherwise they will freeze and we won’t be able to travel ^[5] in the morning.” The Bedouin agreed, but by now the tent was overcrowded and though he was very uncomfortable, he fell asleep.

The Bedouin awoke in the middle of the night, outside the tent and realized that the camel now had the tent completely to himself.