And we enjoy following the feuds of famous and witty people. We often live vicariously through their classy wars of words. For example, two writers, both obviously greatly talented, disparage each other:

"HE HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO USE A WORD THAT MIGHT SEND A READER TO THE DICTIONARY."
-William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

And the reply:

"POOR FAULKNER. DOES HE REALLY THINK BIG EMOTIONS COME FROM BIG WORDS?"
-Earnest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

Or witness another distinguished duo's exchange:

"I AM ENCLOSING TWO TICKETS TO THE FIRST NIGHT OF MY NEW PLAY; BRING A FRIEND...IF YOU HAVE ONE."
- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill.

And the famous reply:

"CANNOT POSSIBLY ATTEND FIRST NIGHT, WILL ATTEND SECOND...IF THERE IS ONE."
-Winston Churchill in reply.

Even Abraham Lincoln got into the act when he said about an acquaintance:

"HE CAN COMPRESS THE MOST WORDS INTO THE SMALLEST IDEA OF ANY MAN I KNOW."

President Lincoln succinctly stated one of the major reasons for ineffective communication. When we start adding the "ands" and "buts" to basically repeat what we have already said, we lose our audience and our argument.

So why do we do this stuff? Why do we get such a kick out of it? Is it really a good idea? Well, in a word NO, at least if you really mean it and the object you aim it at is someone you want to keep as a friend. But witticisms and insults do say much in a few words. And it can provide great humor. For example:

"I'VE HAD A PERFECTLY WONDERFUL EVENING. BUT THIS WASN'T IT."
-Who else but - Groucho Marx.

So before you unload your humorous ridicule on someone, remember:

"AN INJURY IS MUCH SOONER FORGOTTEN THAN AN INSULT."
-Lord Chesterfield

And if it is you that is the object of the insult, the rule is:

"HE, WHO ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE INSULTED, DESERVES TO BE."
- Pierre Corneille