As someone who gets flustered and frustrated during confrontations, I tend to use humor as my first line of defense, which can be a powerful tool to disarm without escalating. But when people double down, I get flustered, especially when dealing with bad-faith arguments or deeply entrenched beliefs. I am focused on learning when to escalate, confront, engage, or disengage, and it has completely changed my perspective on what makes a \"successful conflict\".
Not every battle needs fighting. Ask: Is this person open to dialogue, or just looking to provoke? Will bystanders benefit from your response, even if the bigot won’t? Is your energy better spent elsewhere?
If they’re just trolling, sometimes the best response is disengagement. Read the room and react accordingly.
Further Reading: https://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/escalation
Donate to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund: www.pcrf.net
GET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com
TUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcast
OR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcast
OR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica
The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.