provoke [pr&-'vOk]
to incite to anger or resentment; to stir to action or feeling; to give rise to; evoke; to bring about deliberately; induce: provoke a fight.
Synonyms include: aggravate, anger, annoy, bother, bug, enrage, exasperate, inflame, infuriate, irk, irritate, nag, offend, rile, work up*

James, why?

swooosh3: question...why do you like the Lakers?
swooosh3: and don't say because back in the day Magic and Worthy etc.
Dcgal23: i've been a Laker fan as long as i can remember and i have been watching since magic and worthy days
swooosh3: look at their character...
swooosh3: yeah i can understand why you'd be a fan of that team
Dcgal23: the one from before? long ago?
swooosh3: but look at this team
swooosh3: really are these people you want to root for?
Dcgal23: this team is NOTHING like that team
swooosh3: why not go for the clippers
Dcgal23: the clippers are cool. i didn't say i didn't like them
swooosh3: a bunch of hard working team deffensive minded...no ego's on the team
swooosh3: no sex offenders...
Dcgal23: i've just been a laker fan for as long as i can remember. i've seen them go through all their changes
swooosh3: but don't you think that's just blind rationalization?
Dcgal23: what is? i'm not allowed to be a fan of a team just because?
swooosh3: i dunno...makes it seem like because everybody else is...like other people are making up your mind for you
Dcgal23: i'm not gonna ditch and bad-mouth my favorite basketball team because things changed
swooosh3: because it's "cool"
Dcgal23: WHAT IS YOUR DEAL WITH MAKING COMMENTS LIKE THAT?
Dcgal23: first it was..."Oh, well what does it matter what randy, paula and simon say. make up your own mind"
swooosh3: i dunno...i just think one should make up their own mind
Dcgal23: so...because i am a fan of this basketball team and i happen to NOT be the only one i must be a follower who doesn't know how to make up her own mind? you're gonna use me liking this basketball team to tell me i don't know how to think for myself
swooosh3: i dunno...do you think that?
Dcgal23: well you seem to have a strong opinion of my philosophy does it matter what i say?
swooosh3: good question....does it matter what i say?
swooosh3: which is what i'm tryin to say...
swooosh3: it doesn't...all that matters is what you believe in...
Dcgal23: what're you trying to accomplish?
swooosh3: do you always have to have reasons.....no
swooosh3: get you to understand my thinking
Dcgal23: well, you asked me a question and i tried to answer it as best as i could but you're telling me i'm wrong. so why ask me?
swooosh3: well that's my whole thing....
Dcgal23: WHAT IS YOUR WHOLE THING?
swooosh3: ok you answered my question...i say you're wrong...but why would I say you're wrong?
Dcgal23: i don't know. right wrong...relative
swooosh3: go on
Dcgal23: you're asking me why i think you think i'm wrong?
swooosh3: lol
Dcgal23: i wouldn't really know, james
swooosh3: hmm where am i going with this?
Dcgal23: beats the effin' hell out of me
swooosh3: i don't know myself now...i thought it would be clever
swooosh3: easy easy
swooosh3: don't go raja on me now
swooosh3: i guess i'm tryin to get you to be more assertive...challenge me? tell me i'm wrong for no reason
Dcgal23: i don't make a habit of telling people they're wrong
Dcgal23: you're entitled to your own opinion
swooosh3: i didn't really tell you you're wrong though
Dcgal23: but you want ME to tell YOU that you're wrong
swooosh3: yeah so i can tell you why i'm not
Dcgal23: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

We all know that James like to argue with people...just for the sake of arguing sometimes. But there are those rare occasions when he asks a question and actually wants to hear your answer. After this little exchange that we had, he actually let me talk (type) and explain myself. I don't know if he learned anything but I got him to say he liked my answer - which hardly ever happens, if it ever does. I forget how fun it is to argue your point to someone. It really exercises your mental reflexes. Ok James, what's next on your agenda?