* 20 Unpleasant Conversations (p.3 of 5)
20.10�� When you question somebody's sanity angrily
Are you crazy?�� Listen�� <�Why did you tell my sister about my accident? Are you crazy? Now, she�s going to eat me alive.�>
Are you out of your mind?�� Listen�� <�Have you blown a thousand dollars in Las Vegas? Are you out of your mind? Do you know how much entertainment this money could buy?�>
Are you out of your head? Listen <“Did you shoplift a five-dollar toy in a department store and get caught red-handed? Are you out of your head? Now you have a criminal record.”>
Are you nuts?�� Listen�� <�Why are you driving thirty miles over the speed limit? Are you nuts? You have two speeding tickets already.�>
Are you psychotic or what?�� Listen�� <�Did you touch the arm of a little boy in the swimming pool? Are you psychotic or what? Don�t you know you could easily be accused in the sexual harassment of a minor?�>
Have you gone crazy?�� Listen�� <�Did you flirt with your wife�s sister at the party? Have you gone crazy? Have you forgotten how jealous your wife is?�>
Have you gone insane?�� Listen�� <�How could you hit a man? Have you gone insane? You�ll get a reputation for being compulsively aggressive.�>
Have you lost your mind?�� Listen�� <�What? Did you speed on a busy road and bump into a police car? Have you lost your mind?�>
Have you lost your senses?�� Listen�� <�I lied in court under oath. Now it has become known.� � �How on Earth could you do that? Have you lost your senses?�>
Have you lost your marbles?�� Listen�� A �Have you lost your mind?��� <�I was driving under influence when a police officer pulled me over.� � �Have you lost your marbles? Now you can be penalized with a fine, suspension of your driver�s license, and possibly jail time.�>
Have you completely lost touch with reality?�� Listen�� <�I had a bitter argument with my boss, and he fired me.� � �Have you completely lost touch with reality? Don�t you remember how long it took you to find this job?�>
Have you completely flipped out?�� Listen�� A �Have you gone crazy?��� <�I had a fight in a bar. I got arrested by the police.� � �Have you completely flipped out? Were you drunk?�>
What planet are you from?�� Listen�� <�I bought a stock which my stockbroker called �promising�. But it fell. I lost a good deal of money on it.� � �What planet are you from? This sort of investment is very risky these days.�>
20.11�� When you question somebody's alertness angrily
Hello?�� Listen�� <�Hello? You seem to be a million miles away.�>
What's with you?�� Listen�� <�What�s with you? I�m trying to talk with you. It appears like you don�t hear me.�>
What's wrong with you?�� Listen�� <�Drive carefully. Do you see the car in front of you? It is braking. Slow down! What�s wrong with you?�>
Where's your head?�� Listen�� <�Where is your head? You look absent-minded.�>
What are you thinking?�� Listen�� <�What are you thinking? Do you hear me? Your face has a faraway look.�>
What's your problem?�� Listen�� A �What causes your strange behavior?��� <�I reminded you twice to pay this bill today. Still, you forgot to do that. What�s your problem?�>
What kind of drugs are you on?�� Listen�� A �What is that substance that causes your strange behavior?��� <�Why aren�t you watching the road? What kind of drugs are you on? Do you want me to drive?�>
What have you been smoking?�� Listen�� <�You are absolutely not paying attention to what�s going on around you. What have you been smoking?�>
20.12�� When you want to stop a person from being angry
Don't have a fit.�� Listen�� A �Don�t have a fit of anger.��� <�Dad, I want to tell you something. Don�t have a fit, though. I wrecked your car.�>
Don't throw a fit.�� Listen�� A �Don�t have a violent burst of rage. Don�t throw a fit of anger at me.��� <�Did you make all this mess in my house?� � �Calm down. Don�t throw a fit. We�ll clean it up.�>
Don't have a conniption fit.�� Listen�� <�Betty, how many boyfriends did you have in your life?� � �What?� � �Don�t have a conniption fit. I�m just curious.�>
Don't have a cow.�� Listen�� A �Don�t have a fit.��� <�Did he really start this dirty rumor about me?� � �Don�t have a cow. Even if he did, there�s nothing you can do about it. Don�t make a fool of yourself.�>
Give it a break.�� Listen�� A �Make a pause in your angry speech. Treat me favorably.��� <�Stop yelling at me. Give it a break.�>
20.13�� When you are angry at the person who has interrupted you
I wasn't speaking to you.�� Listen�� <�Boss, if I may. You�re making a mistake!� � �I wasn�t speaking to you.�>
Was I talking to you?�� Listen�� <�Can I say something? This is simply wrong.� � �Was I talking to you?�>
Who asked you?�� Listen�� A �Nobody is asking your opinion.��� <�Why don�t you back out of this deal before it is too late?� � �Who asked you? Mind your own business.�>
When I want your opinion, I'll ask it.�� Listen�� A �I don�t want to hear your opinion.��� <�Your hair is a mess. Why don�t you do something about it?� � �When I want your opinion, I�ll ask it.�>
Keep your opinions to yourself.�� Listen�� <�In other words, you want to disregard this important information, don�t you? How irresponsible of you!� � �Keep your opinions to yourself. I haven�t made any decision yet.�>
I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself.�� Listen�� A �I am not interested in your opinion.��� <�Your room looks like it went thought a war.� � �I�ll thank you to keep your opinion to yourself.�>
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