How Verbal Self-Defense Works

http://people.howstuffworks.com/vsd.htm

by screwperman • 17 years ago

31 6 17 years ago

people.howstuffworks.com

discojesus• 17 years ago

Oh yeah? Well I had sex with your WIFE!

AndrewO• 17 years ago

His wife's in a coma.

theorique• 17 years ago

the jerk store called, and they ran out of you

allenp• 17 years ago

This is horrible advice, really, don't do this. The first option is to ignore anything the person is saying and ramble on about something until they leave you alone. The second option is to act like an emotionless robot. If the person making these "attacks" at you is someone you have a vested interest in getting along with (co-worker, spouse, etc) you really owe it to yourself to not hide from them with these childish tactics and to just address the issue.

3pt14159• 17 years ago

Came here to say that. If I really don't care about the subject of the potential fight I just laugh at the person asking the question. "You didn't remember to turn on the dishwasher after you put the dishes in! Do you do this on purpose?!" me: "hahahah". Done.

simplify• 17 years ago

The article is addressing verbal "attackers". The issues at hand aren't really issues; as the author states, most of the time the attacker is just trying to get attention.

The methods suggested by the article are methods to avoid hostile language. I think most would agree that hostile language is no way to effectively resolve an argument. Of course, if it's about something "which you care profoundly", then of course you should take the issue on directly.

In the end, I think the article is good advice, especially against people you don't know that well.

How Verbal Self-Defense Works

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