LOL, 'Neato.
But I will say in all seriousness that for me at least, having a pat answer has been really helpful. It's easier to shrug if you aren't shocked and lost for words! A party line helped me personally to feel less like I needed one, if that makes sense: it left me less exposed, less insecure, feeling less likely to be surprised by a nasty comment that I wouldn't know how to handle.
I think of my pat answers as my security blankets. Ever since I've had them at the ready, I haven't needed to use them in my defense. To me, that means they're probably working!
