I used to do it to some of the people who lived with me when I did not want to deal with any more shit. People recoil from delayed eye contact. Just stare at them and they look like deer caught in headlights. Or maybe it's just me.
Um. Sounds like I do about what you do. Only I'm usually less laid back about it, for which I commend you, I'm working on that.
The initial exchange would have had fewer words on my end. I don't answer statement questions, I just smile and go on with whatever I'm doing. But afterward, I'd never hang up my coat again. I'd find different places to drape it, over the door, over the desk, across the back of the monitor, my coat would never see the dim depths of the closet ever again. But I'm like that. I don't respond well to pressure, and I respond even less well to threats.
Not that you want to use this model, it's not my best feature.
I very cheerily answer with an answer that is not the answer to the question that was asked, usually one which turns the tables around. For me, the exchange would have gone:
"Why don't you go hang up your coat?" "Oh, that's so sweet of you offer! But I wouldn't want to inconvenience you, so I'll just take care of it a little later, thanks."
The primary tactic is confusion. The key to this response is that you have to do it very quickly (sort of the opposite of your pause), because if you pause, it sends the message that you had to think about it, and the effectiveness of this plan is that a quick answer will catch the other person off guard.
Yikes what a nightmare. Does she think that going into "mommy" mode will reduce you to a quivering puddle of fear and regrets.
"Now maeg, you know there is a coat closet right there where there is plenty of room for you to hang your coat. Don't make me tell you again or you will be grounded young man. Just wait until I tell your father.....oh the things I have to put up with around here"
Your response was dead on but I kind of like MC's suggestion as well.
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Not you, Erek. :)
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The initial exchange would have had fewer words on my end. I don't answer statement questions, I just smile and go on with whatever I'm doing. But afterward, I'd never hang up my coat again. I'd find different places to drape it, over the door, over the desk, across the back of the monitor, my coat would never see the dim depths of the closet ever again. But I'm like that. I don't respond well to pressure, and I respond even less well to threats.
Not that you want to use this model, it's not my best feature.
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"Why don't you go hang up your coat?"
"Oh, that's so sweet of you offer! But I wouldn't want to inconvenience you, so I'll just take care of it a little later, thanks."
The primary tactic is confusion. The key to this response is that you have to do it very quickly (sort of the opposite of your pause), because if you pause, it sends the message that you had to think about it, and the effectiveness of this plan is that a quick answer will catch the other person off guard.
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Walk him and pitch to the Rhino?
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"Now maeg, you know there is a coat closet right there where there is plenty of room for you to hang your coat. Don't make me tell you again or you will be grounded young man. Just wait until I tell your father.....oh the things I have to put up with around here"
Your response was dead on but I kind of like MC's suggestion as well.
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