Ugly mirror images

Ted E. takes something to The Invertebrate for discussion.  It takes The Invertebrate a couple of minutes to work out what Ted E. is talking about (it's something the rest of us we were talking about two hours ago - there's that time lag again).

Ted E. outlines his proposition.

The Invertebrate explains what the situation actually is.

Ted E. repeates everything The Invertebrate says, but somehow contrives to get it exactly the opposite way around. "So that's it, isn't it?" he says with some satisfaction, apparently feeling he's proven his point.

"Er, yeah... Except, the other way around."

"What?"

The Invertebrate explains Ted E.'s "point" back to him.

"Oh, of course. That's exactly what I said."