(i'd hate to disappoint, Juan)

"I had a problem getting in...It just wouldn't load all the way.... [disarming-by-expectation-e]"

Rhetorically speaking, this would be prolepsis ~ but could this term be extended to include anticipation (and by extension, disposal--or at least softening) of ribbing chortle, as opposed to argument (as prolepsis would generally indicate)?

there are so many wonderful words ~ rhetorical and otherwise ~ pertaining to argumentation. i think i'll start a thread (in the appropriate forum, bien sur) with a couple of my favorites, and see where it leads