* 7 Negative Attitude in a Conversation (p.3 of 4)
7.10 When you don’t like that a person is arguing with you
You’re just being difficult. Listen A “You are hard to convince, manage, please, deal with…” <“Mother, I don’t want to go to school anymore.” – “Johnny, you’re just being difficult.”>
You’re being contrary. Listen A “You are resistant to persuasion, logic, guidance…” <“I don’t need your advice. I don’t need your help. I don’t need anything from you.” – “Mary, you’re being contrary.”>
You’re arguing for the sake of arguing. Listen A “You are arguing just to be difficult or contrary.” <“I don’t think there is an issue here. You’re arguing for the sake of arguing.”>
You’re disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing. Listen <“I guess you don’t really have anything to say. You are disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing.”>
You’re disagreeing to disagree. Listen <“Here you go again. You are disagreeing to disagree.>
You just like to hear yourself talk. Listen A “You like talking without paying attention if others like to listen to you.” <“You don’t even understand what the problem is. You just like to hear yourself talk.”>
Don’t contradict me. Listen <“Enough of this foolishness! Don’t contradict me.”>
7.11 When you are angry at what a person is saying
Don’t you know anything? Listen <“Do you think I can ask her about her age?” – “Women don’t like personal questions. Don’t you know anything?”>
How could you be so stupid? Listen <“I decided to do nothing about the cut on my hand. It will heal naturally.” – “How could you be so stupid? You will end up with an infection.”>
Get your head out of the sand. Listen <“Our planet is abundant in resources.” – “Get your head out of the sand. We have almost depleted the planet’s resources.”>
You’re clueless. Listen A “You are totally unaware or uninformed.” <“I think the situation is not as serious as it appears.” – “You are clueless. You don’t feel the gravity of the situation.”>
You’re without a clue. Listen <“The world economy is recovering.” – “You are without a clue. Most economists predict further trouble.”>
You don’t know up from down. Listen A “You are confused.” <“Are you aware that according to some scientific data the Earth is round?” – “You don’t know up from down. The Earth is flat.”>
You don’t know which end is up. Listen <“Why don’t you shut up? You didn’t need to drink so much. I’ll talk with you when you sober up. Right now, you don’t know which end is up.”>
7.12 When you believe that the speaker is trying to fool you
Whom do you think you’re kidding? Listen A “Do you think you are trying to fool an inexperienced person?” <“This is an authentic Picasso.” – “Whom do you think you’re kidding? In the best case this is a copy of a copy.”>
Whom do you think you’re talking to? Listen A “Do you think you are talking to an inexperienced person?” <“Look, I’m giving you a dollar. And in a year you will return me two dollars. It’s a good deal for you!” – “Do you want to charge me a hundred percent interest? Whom do you think you are talking to?”>
How stupid do you think I am? Listen <“You call it real gold? How stupid do you think I am?”>
Do you think I was born yesterday? Listen <“At our restaurant we carry only vintage wines.” – “Do you think I was born yesterday? What you gave me was a cheap imitation.”>
7.13 When you demonstrate ignorance or unawareness
I don’t know. Listen <“Where are the car keys?” – “I don’t know. Where did you put them?”>
I don’t know and I don’t care. Listen <“Do you know that tropical frogs are dying?” – “I don’t know and I don’t care.”>
I don’t have a clue. Listen <“Do you know where I left my glasses?” – “Don’t ask me. I don’t have a clue.”>
I’m clueless. Listen <“How do we get there?” – “I am clueless. I thought you would know.”>
I have no idea. Listen <“Where is my suitcase?” – “I have no idea. Where did you leave it?”>
I don’t have the faintest idea. Listen <“So, son. You lost your job and you don’t have any money. What are you going to do now?” – “I don’t have the faintest idea, dad.”>
I don’t have the foggiest notion. Listen <“How do we get out of here?” – “I don’t have the foggiest notion.”>
How would I know? Listen A “Why would you expect me to know?” <“Where is my wallet?” – “How would I know? You usually hide it from me.”>
How should I know? Listen A “Why should I be expected to know?” <“Why are some wasps called ‘yellow jackets’?” – “How should I know? Look it up in some zoology book.”>
How the heck should I know? Listen <“Who’s going to win the elections?” – “How the heck should I know? And why do you care?”>
Who knows? Listen A “I don’t know who knows, but I definitely don’t.” <“When are we going to land?” – “Who knows? Ask the flight attendant, she might know.”>
God only knows. Listen A “Only God knows and nobody else.” <“What’s going to happen now?” – “God only knows.”>
Heaven knows. Listen <“How long is this unexpected delay going to take us?” – “Heaven knows.”>
Your guess is as good as mine. Listen A “Your hypothesis is no worse than mine. I don’t really know.” <“We have made two circles around the block. Where is the house?” – “Your guess is as good as mine. Let’s ask somebody.”>
It beats me. Listen A “Your question baffles me. I don’t know the answer to your question.” <“What is the tallest mountain in North America?” – “It beats me.”>
You got me there. Listen A “Your question caught me unprepared. I don’t know the answer to your question.” <“Can you recommend me a gift for my sister?” – “You got me there. I don’t have any idea.”>
You’ve got me stumped. Listen <“What is the longest river on the planet?” – “You’ve got me stumped. I just don’t know.”>
I can’t say for sure. Listen A “I don’t really know, so I can’t say with certainty.” <“Is this a bus to Los Angeles?” – “I can’t say for sure. You better ask the driver.”>
There’s no way to tell. Listen A “I don’t know the relevant circumstances, therefore I can’t really tell you.” <“When is our airplane arriving to the destination?” – “There’s no way to tell. Due to the thunderstorm, we are flying way off course.”>
7.14 When you demonstrate indifference
I don’t care. Listen A “It doesn’t matter to me.” <“Do you want to go there by train or by bus?” – “I don’t care. Either way we’ll be there in one day.”>
I couldn’t care less. Listen A “I care very little.” <“You’re late for work again! The boss will be furious.” – “I couldn’t care less. I am quitting this job anyway.”>
It really doesn’t matter to me. Listen A “I don’t really care.” <“Do we need to paint the house gray or yellow?” – “It really doesn’t matter to me.”>
It’s not important for me. Listen <“Do you want to go with me or stay here?” – “It’s not important to me. Either way.”>
It makes no difference to me. Listen A “I don’t care whichever way.” <“Do you mind if we take a bus today? I don’t want to drive a car.” – “It makes no difference to me. Do you have a headache again?”>
Who cares? Listen A “Is there anybody who cares?” <“You have a dirty spot on your white shirt.” – “Who cares? Nobody will pay attention.”>
I don’t give a damn. Listen A “I don’t care at all.” <“Our company is doing poorer and poorer.” – “I don’t give a damn. I can’t be the only person concerned.”>
It’s up to you. Listen A “You choose.” <“Will you go with me or wait for me here?” – “It’s up to you.”>
Whatever you prefer. Listen <“Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?” – “Whatever you prefer. I like them both.”>
Whatever. Listen A “Any one. I don’t care.” <“Which shirt do you want to put on, yellow or brown?” – “Whatever.”>
Either way. Listen <“Do you want to fly there or drive?” – “Either way. I don’t have any preference.”>
Whichever way. Listen <“How do you want to deal with this situation? There may be several ways.” – “Whichever way. I’m chiefly concerned about the result, not the method.”>
What’s in it for me? Listen A “What is my benefit in this deal? Why do I need to care if I don’t benefit from it?” <“Don’t you like this plan?” – “I don’t really care. What’s in it for me?”>
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