"...Well I don't know..."

Officially the best conversation saver ever, this guy deserves a medal. We've all been there, when someone turns the conversation sour for no real reason and it kills it, dead. It's like, 'thanks for that love...did you not see the twee montage of laughter and Ronan Keating? It was going so bloody well before you started banging on about your wheelchair. Zip it.' Except, you can't say that, so everyone just looks at each other with raised eyebrows and puffed cheeks (in that order).

I've often wondered how to combat such a social situation without causing offense. A popular one is to mock the comment, which will burn one bridge but everyone else will think you're funny and/or a hero for saving the situation (NB Don't try it when you're 'the new guy' and everyone else has known each other for years, it burns all bridges and will leave you on the pavement cursing Addison Lee for their 1 hour Saturday night wait for a cab).

So, if in doubt, try and go for this route. It's all in the tone, sympathetic, disarming and deflecting. Awesome move.