How do you deal with argumentative people who seem to disagree with everything you say?

[raccoon]

I mean, the type that if you say it's a pretty day, and they say, "Looks like some clouds coming up."

I have an acquaintance like this. Ordinarily, I only see her when she sits with me and a mutual friend at church.

From now on, I am going to confine my conversation with her to, "Hello, how are you."



edited for grammar

[elleng]

1. 'See you in court.'

Married the s.o.b. DAMN!

Sorry, not a good answer to your question; you got me at the wrong moment!

Some people are just contrary!

[woo me with science]

2. Oh, that one's fun!

You just keep changing your mind to agree with them!

I have used this technique on perpetual victims I know. I initially saw it in a clinical book for dealing with borderline personality disordered patients who perpetually try to put others into the role of coercing or opposing them. It will work for any argumentative person, though.

The book says it is supposed to be therapeutic for the borderline, but I enjoy it because it pisses them off.

[raccoon]

3. Haven't heard that one, but it sounds good! nt

[lovemydog]

4. No way!

No it doesn't.

Just kidding.

:)

[Duer 157099]

5. Send them to the Argument Clinic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

[DebJ]

17. LOL. Abuse job would be great second job for customer

service reps!

[struggle4progress]

6. Phrase every disagreement with them as if it were an agreement

"I think it's going to snow"
"Well, I think it's going to to be a bright sunny day"
"Yes, snowfalls on bright sunny days are beautiful "
"It doesn't snow on bright sunny days"
"I was just thinking exactly the same thing! Isn't it wonderful how alike our minds are!"
"I don't think our minds are anything alike!"
"I do too!"

[raccoon]

7. Haha! I like it. nt

[Iggo]

10. O-o-o-o-o-oh, I like that.

I like it a lot!

[Inchworm]

8. Carry a large sock and "don't play that"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2TXn5Umkr4

:D

[Iggo]

9. Take their side instead...

...but take it to an absurdly radical conclusion.

Repeat as necessary.

[LynneSin]

11. You just need to get the *#)% over yourself and realize I am always right!1

:hide:

(j/k :pals: )

[siligut]

12. I do what you say you are going to do

Just stay away from them, conserve my energy for people I enjoy.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. I stop saying anything to them. Or, if they ask me a question, I say

I don't know.

I have a cousin who does this. She will ask, "How much is a pound of ground beef?" I will say,"A buck, ninety-nine." She will say, "Are you SURE...?" I got tired of it, hence the "I don't know."

[RandomThoughts]

14. There is a reason to disagree with everything someone might say.

If they have not yet corrected what they should correct, then the legacy of that lack of proper action creates anything they do as being wrong.

If you agree with them, then you are being false if they have not corrected what they should have corrected. Although you can agree that some people have some better ideas, while they have not corrected what should be corrected, any agreement is an attempt to ignore what should be corrected.


As an example, if you are due beer and travel money, and someone says, here have this little bit of something instead, yet can not explain why they have not corrected what is due, then they are trying to point a direction to some other path they can not defend.

Side note, nobody owes me beer and travel money even if it is due.

[LiberalEsto]

15. put them on Ignore nt

[Deep13]

16. All the previous comments on this thread are wrong.

:evilgrin:

[kentauros]

22. Everything I say is true.

The last statement I said was false.

[Deep13]

23. No it's not!

(Unless it is.)

[guitar man]

18. After 20 years

I just give up arguing and it's "yes dear, whatever you say dear" :spray:

:hide:

[bookworm65t]

19. My dad contradicts everything I say

He will believe any male stranger, but dismisses anything said by his wife and daughters.

I'm glad I take antidepressants; it helps to numb my anger.

:mad: :grr:

[raccoon]

27. My mother was like that most of my life; she'd believe the village idiot ahead of her own kids.

I feel your pain. :hug:

[Mike 03]

20. Be like a blade of grass

I also deal with this, and Eastern Philosophy offered me an answer, which was to drop my defense and just bend like a blade of grass. At first it hurts, but over time it becomes the sensible way to deal with attacks. There is nothing to attack.

[KamaAina]

21. Switch the channel from Fox pronto

:scared:

[femmocrat]

24. I am married to someone like that.

I put him on ignore a long time ago. Keeps my blood pressure at manageable levels that way.

[Boojatta]

25. First idea: you could say that the clouds are pretty.

Second idea: you could say that the clouds are indeed coming up, so it might become an ugly day, but in the meantime it is a pretty day.

If you want more ideas, let me know.

[Odin2005]

26. Ignore them. They are looking for attention so I don't give them any.