Them Bears

Them bears are a conversation starter for people who don't know what to say. It can buy you the time to come up with a better topic, or to think of an excuse for small-talk, but the actual conversation may not include them bears. The dialogue is started by someone proposing the question, "How 'bout them bears?" the proper response is, and must be dictated word-for-word, "I don't know; how 'bout them bears?" There is a stress on the word "'bout" in this sentence, wherein the voice travels to a higher register. I don't know; how 'BOUT them bears?