Hey man I saw termites destroying the support beams in your basement!
"Um, bullshit. Show me"
*we go down into the basement together and I point at support beams with termites visibly on them as we speak, and a great deal of wood eaten away in the beams*
Look! there!
"Show me a support beam which has been destroyed by termites"
Um... look at all of those support beams! They're hanging by a thread! The termites have gnawed them down by 40% of their width!
"I fail to see any support beam fully eaten through by termites. You're being paranoid. There is no issue"
Okay man... it's your house, suit yourself... but I'm telling you, those termites are devouring your support beams and if you don't get rid of them now, and reinforce those beams, your house is going to fall down. I'd rather that didn't happen, my grandparents grew up in a house near here, very similar to this. I think your house is beautiful, and I really admire the way you decorate it. It'd be a real shame to see it fall... and to be food for termites. I know my house is a fairly lame, modern style one unlike your nice old brick house, mine just has gaudy vinyl siding and it's in a part of town where the trees haven't had any time to grow... and it's way on the other side of town, but personally I'll be going home and being extra vigilant about termites now that I've seen what they're doing to your place. I am going to put down some spray, though you will call me nuts for doing so. Good luck.