* 7 Negative Attitude in a Conversation (p.3 of 4)

7.10ï¿½ï¿½ When you donï¿½t like that a person is arguing with you

Youï¿½re just being difficult.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You are hard to convince, manage, please, deal withï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Mother, I donï¿½t want to go to school anymore.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Johnny, youï¿½re just being difficult.ï¿½>

Youï¿½re being contrary.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You are resistant to persuasion, logic, guidanceï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I donï¿½t need your advice. I donï¿½t need your help. I donï¿½t need anything from you.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Mary, youï¿½re being contrary.ï¿½>

Youï¿½re arguing for the sake of arguing.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You are arguing just to be difficult or contrary.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I donï¿½t think there is an issue here. Youï¿½re arguing for the sake of arguing.ï¿½>

Youï¿½re disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I guess you donï¿½t really have anything to say. You are disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing.ï¿½>

Youï¿½re disagreeing to disagree.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Here you go again. You are disagreeing to disagree.>

You just like to hear yourself talk.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You like talking without paying attention if others like to listen to you.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You donï¿½t even understand what the problem is. You just like to hear yourself talk.ï¿½>

Donï¿½t contradict me.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Enough of this foolishness! Donï¿½t contradict me.ï¿½>

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7.11ï¿½ï¿½ When you are angry at what a person is saying

Donï¿½t you know anything?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you think I can ask her about her age?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Women donï¿½t like personal questions. Donï¿½t you know anything?ï¿½>

How could you be so stupid?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I decided to do nothing about the cut on my hand. It will heal naturally.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½How could you be so stupid? You will end up with an infection.ï¿½>

Get your head out of the sand.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Our planet is abundant in resources.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Get your head out of the sand. We have almost depleted the planetï¿½s resources.ï¿½>

Youï¿½re clueless.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You are totally unaware or uninformed.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½I think the situation is not as serious as it appears.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½You are clueless. You donï¿½t feel the gravity of the situation.ï¿½>

Youï¿½re without a clue.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½The world economy is recovering.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½You are without a clue. Most economists predict further trouble.ï¿½>

You donï¿½t know up from down.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You are confused.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Are you aware that according to some scientific data the Earth is round?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½You donï¿½t know up from down. The Earth is flat.ï¿½>

You donï¿½t know which end is up.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Why donï¿½t you shut up? You didnï¿½t need to drink so much. Iï¿½ll talk with you when you sober up. Right now, you donï¿½t know which end is up.ï¿½>

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7.12ï¿½ï¿½ When you believe that the speaker is trying to fool you

Whom do you think youï¿½re kidding?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Do you think you are trying to fool an inexperienced person?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½This is an authentic Picasso.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Whom do you think youï¿½re kidding? In the best case this is a copy of a copy.ï¿½>

Whom do you think youï¿½re talking to?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Do you think you are talking to an inexperienced person?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Look, Iï¿½m giving you a dollar. And in a year you will return me two dollars. Itï¿½s a good deal for you!ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Do you want to charge me a hundred percent interest? Whom do you think you are talking to?ï¿½>

How stupid do you think I am?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You call it real gold? How stupid do you think I am?ï¿½>

Do you think I was born yesterday?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½At our restaurant we carry only vintage wines.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Do you think I was born yesterday? What you gave me was a cheap imitation.ï¿½>

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7.13ï¿½ï¿½ When you demonstrate ignorance or unawareness

I donï¿½t know.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Where are the car keys?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I donï¿½t know. Where did you put them?ï¿½>

I donï¿½t know and I donï¿½t care.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you know that tropical frogs are dying?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I donï¿½t know and I donï¿½t care.ï¿½>

I donï¿½t have a clue.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you know where I left my glasses?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Donï¿½t ask me. I donï¿½t have a clue.ï¿½>

Iï¿½m clueless.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½How do we get there?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I am clueless. I thought you would know.ï¿½>

I have no idea.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Where is my suitcase?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I have no idea. Where did you leave it?ï¿½>

I donï¿½t have the faintest idea.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½So, son. You lost your job and you donï¿½t have any money. What are you going to do now?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I donï¿½t have the faintest idea, dad.ï¿½>

I donï¿½t have the foggiest notion.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½How do we get out of here?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I donï¿½t have the foggiest notion.ï¿½>

How would I know? ï¿½ï¿½Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Why would you expect me to know?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Where is my wallet?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½How would I know? You usually hide it from me.ï¿½>

How should I know?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Why should I be expected to know?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Why are some wasps called ï¿½yellow jacketsï¿½?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½How should I know? Look it up in some zoology book.ï¿½>

How the heck should I know?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Whoï¿½s going to win the elections?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½How the heck should I know? And why do you care?ï¿½>

Who knows?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I donï¿½t know who knows, but I definitely donï¿½t.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½When are we going to land?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Who knows? Ask the flight attendant, she might know.ï¿½>

God only knows.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Only God knows and nobody else.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Whatï¿½s going to happen now?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½God only knows.ï¿½>

Heaven knows.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½How long is this unexpected delay going to take us?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Heaven knows.ï¿½>

Your guess is as good as mine.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Your hypothesis is no worse than mine. I donï¿½t really know.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½We have made two circles around the block. Where is the house?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Your guess is as good as mine. Letï¿½s ask somebody.ï¿½>

It beats me.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Your question baffles me. I donï¿½t know the answer to your question.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½What is the tallest mountain in North America?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½It beats me.ï¿½>

You got me there.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Your question caught me unprepared. I donï¿½t know the answer to your question.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Can you recommend me a gift for my sister?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½You got me there. I donï¿½t have any idea.ï¿½>

Youï¿½ve got me stumped.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½What is the longest river on the planet?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Youï¿½ve got me stumped. I just donï¿½t know.ï¿½>

I canï¿½t say for sure.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I donï¿½t really know, so I canï¿½t say with certainty.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Is this a bus to Los Angeles?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I canï¿½t say for sure. You better ask the driver.ï¿½>

Thereï¿½s no way to tell.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I donï¿½t know the relevant circumstances, therefore I canï¿½t really tell you.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½When is our airplane arriving to the destination?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Thereï¿½s no way to tell. Due to the thunderstorm, we are flying way off course.ï¿½>

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7.14ï¿½ï¿½ When you demonstrate indifference

I donï¿½t care.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½It doesnï¿½t matter to me.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you want to go there by train or by bus?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I donï¿½t care. Either way weï¿½ll be there in one day.ï¿½>

I couldnï¿½t care less.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I care very little.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Youï¿½re late for work again! The boss will be furious.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I couldnï¿½t care less. I am quitting this job anyway.ï¿½>

It really doesnï¿½t matter to me.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I donï¿½t really care.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do we need to paint the house gray or yellow?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½It really doesnï¿½t matter to me.ï¿½>

Itï¿½s not important for me.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you want to go with me or stay here?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Itï¿½s not important to me. Either way.ï¿½>

It makes no difference to me.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I donï¿½t care whichever way.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you mind if we take a bus today? I donï¿½t want to drive a car.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½It makes no difference to me. Do you have a headache again?ï¿½>

Who cares?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Is there anybody who cares?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½You have a dirty spot on your white shirt.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Who cares? Nobody will pay attention.ï¿½>

I donï¿½t give a damn.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½I donï¿½t care at all.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Our company is doing poorer and poorer.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I donï¿½t give a damn. I canï¿½t be the only person concerned.ï¿½>

Itï¿½s up to you.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½You choose.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Will you go with me or wait for me here?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Itï¿½s up to you.ï¿½>

Whatever you prefer.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Whatever you prefer. I like them both.ï¿½>

Whatever.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½Any one. I donï¿½t care.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Which shirt do you want to put on, yellow or brown?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Whatever.ï¿½>

Either way.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Do you want to fly there or drive?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Either way. I donï¿½t have any preference.ï¿½>

Whichever way.ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½How do you want to deal with this situation? There may be several ways.ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½Whichever way. Iï¿½m chiefly concerned about the result, not the method.ï¿½>

Whatï¿½s in it for me?ï¿½ï¿½ Listenï¿½ï¿½ A ï¿½What is my benefit in this deal? Why do I need to care if I donï¿½t benefit from it?ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ <ï¿½Donï¿½t you like this plan?ï¿½ ï¿½ ï¿½I donï¿½t really care. Whatï¿½s in it for me?ï¿½>

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