Use of Lame Comeback

Does anyone else think the scope of Lame Comeback is...kind of lopsided? I've seen it used as a Pothole Magnet a lot, often in situations where the "comeback" wasn't actually in response to an insult (i.e. someone attempting to avoid a touchy subject or overreacting to something they think is incriminating), or the reverse, as in the insult is there but the "comeback" isn't (i.e. someone sheepishly concedes, ignores the insult entriely or is simply unable to make a comeback because what was in that specific comeback was their Berserk Button). To give a few examples:

• From Quotes.Suspiciously Specific Denial

I feel like this is just part of his and Amy's shtick. That and him trying to take suspicion off of himself.

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• From Quotes.The Campaign Trail:

This clearly wasn't intended as a comeback.

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• From Series.They Think Its All Over:
  • In a Series 13 episode with guest captains Matthew Pinsent (replacing David) and Steve Davis (replacing Gary), Damon Hill, and Beverley Turner, Matthew's team's "Excuses" question concerned West Ham United's Australian defender Hayden Foxe and his excuse for relieving himself while standing on a nightclub bar during the club's Christmas party. Matthew joked that Steve had been on the receiving end of something similar at a club called "The Crucible" (the theatre that hosts the World Snooker Championships) when Ronnie O'Sullivan "pissed all over [him]". Rory McGrath encouraged Steve to return fire with a witty one-liner, and Steve simply declared, "Bollocks."

This is just someone not wanting to put any energy into a comeback.

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...Anyway, I'm curious to see if anyone else has noticed this.

Edited by Coachpill on Jan 6th 2024 at 1:31:35 PM

Silver and gold, silver and gold

The description doesn't say it has to be a response to an insult, just a rejoinder that's unimpressive. No, You is usually considered a Lame Comeback since it doesn't involve much effort, and examples of "making a retort but not bothering to come up with something clever" fits the Lame requirement.

So would it apply to things like the Senator quote? I feel like the description needs to be expanded if there's a bit more versatility to it.

Silver and gold, silver and gold

Looking at the quote devoid of context, I think the Senator remark wasn't intended as a comeback, just a, "That was rude of you", so it'd be misuse. And the speaker is Dan Quayle, and people like to dunk on him.