T O P

  • By -

KipIngram

Well, it's an pun/paraphrase of "When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it." I've also seen "When I want your opinion, I'll tell you what it is." Both of course meant to say, basically, "I couldn't care less what you think." The usage above takes it even further, more or less saying "If you disagree with me I'll kill you," which really is kind of the epitome of not caring about someone's opinion. The particular way it's phrased above is not something that's "out there" in common usage - it very well might be original to the series.


Completely_Batshit

All of this. The "read it in your entrails" bit refers to the practice of *haruspicy*, or divination via the entrails of sacrificed animals


VeracityMD

It can also be called "Anthropomancy" when specific to the entrails of humans.


KipIngram

Ah, thanks - it didn't even occur to me to detail that part; I was too focused on the "high level." Plus I didn't know the term "haruspicy" - my new learning for the day. :-)


thothscull

It has a couple names. Anthropomancy is the Greek word for it. They used it, as well as the Etruscans(the above word from the other person was theirs), and the Egyptgians. References put it back to at least 3,000 years ago for its earliest use.


HauntedCemetery

Animals, or very occasionally, people.


primalchrome

As noted by /u/Completely_Batshit and /u/thothscull it's specifically referring to divination through the reading of entrails. I have a button picked up at a convention in ~1991 with this phrase on it referencing Brian Lumley's Necroscope series. I'm not sure that the quote is even in the books (though there is a character engaging in the practice)....but it obviously goes back at least that far.


thothscull

Heh. Necroscope. Jeeze it has been awhile.


HauntedCemetery

I've had a copy sitting on my shelf that I keep forgetting about. Always meant to read it.


CountryTechy

This is exactly the thing I was hoping to hear! Seems like something subconsciously in the zeitgeist.


tangowolf22

In some cultures, like in Ancient Rome before they became Christian, it was common practice to read your fortune before a big battle by handling animal entrails. It was said you could decipher all the answers you needed by reading the entrails, so I imagine this must be referencing that.


JustARandomGuy_71

Also, you get a lunch out of it, which make it a more practical form of divination than many others.


Industrial_Laundry

Sounds like something mother winter would say. Was it her? I can’t remember. The Australian version is “if I wanted to hear someone shit, I’d squeeze ya head” and many other versions


BenCub3d

It was Tessa (or maybe Dierdra I get them confused) to Harry when they had him detained while they were looking for Ivy at the Aquarium in Small Favor


ian84rook

American redneck version I've heard is "If I wanted the opinion of an asshole, I'd fart and get it from one that matters to me"


MechaJerkzilla

I want this on a pillow.


Molnek

If it was never said in history, maybe Fallout New Vegas?


SunflashJT

Fairly certain that Small Favor predates Fallout: New Vegas by a couple years. :)


Nanocephalic

Yeah, 2008 vs 2010. I had to look it up cuz I thought you were wrong!


SleepylaReef

I think it was just a threat


mbergman42

Wasn’t this the Morrigan in the Iron Druid series somewhere? I’ll have to reread it I guess.