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How to handle arguments/confrontations

Started by David Mendoza73 · · 👁 8 views · 33 replies

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Participants David Mendoza73Nicholas MyersNicholas KingNicholas Gonzalez8casualharbor9Scott Rodriguez7Michael Harris93Casey Phillips18Douglas Gray8Jeffrey Hill39Kyle Harris7Kevin Bailey2Sophia Jones5Andrew Mendoza10Robin Hayes2Scott SandersDennis Bailey2
David Mendoza73 David Mendoza73 MemberOP
14 messages
joined Jun 2012
#21 ·
Kyle Harris7 said:Ever thought about trying some mental exercises or maybe those breathing techniques?
Like, whenever you feel your voice starting to rise—and your blood pressure spiking right along with it—just step back and count to ten in your head. It’s just an automated way to force your system to chill out.
Or even just taking a deep breath in and out. That actually triggers a physical shift in your body when stress hits. You know, that specific kind of stress from an argument that just fuels the fire because it dumps adrenaline into your system, triggering that primal defense mode where you start saying things you don't even mean...
I know, I know. It sounds cliché and incredibly cheesy, but honestly? It works for me.

Sounds alright to me. Good idea... I'll give it a shot. 🙂
Kevin Bailey2 Kevin Bailey2 Regular
265 messages
joined Jul 2012
#22 ·
Grow up.

This kind of behavior is basically just immaturity fueled by deep-seated insecurities.

I’ve caught myself doing this plenty of times, and it forced me to take a hard look in the mirror. What am I actually doing, and why?
Usually, it's an attempt to fix my own flaws by projecting them onto someone else.
The root cause is often just repressed fear—fear of being hurt. And fear and aggression are two sides of the same coin, whether it's verbal or physical.

Sure, lashing out might give you a momentary rush... but...
It doesn't work that way. You're just spinning your wheels in a vicious cycle.

If you aren't a cold-blooded shark (and honestly, I'm not) and if you aren't some kind of sociopath (which I'm betting isn't you, since you actually want to change)... then this conflict might feel good for a second, but eventually, the guilt starts eating at you. You'll hit a point where you stop and ask yourself... what was the point of all that?

If you don't want to be haunted by your past, just own it as part of growing up. Apologize to the people you might have hurt. Then, do your best to move forward.

Good luck.
Sophia Jones5 Sophia Jones5 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Jul 2012
#23 ·
Kevin Bailey2 said:Grow up.

This kind of behavior is basically just immaturity fueled by deep-seated insecurities.

I’ve caught myself doing this plenty of times, and it forced me to take a hard look in the mirror. What am I actually doing, and why?
Usually, it's an attempt to fix my own flaws by projecting them onto someone else.
The root cause is often just repressed fear—fear of being hurt. And fear and aggression are two sides of the same coin, whether it's verbal or physical.

Sure, lashing out might give you a momentary rush... but...
It doesn't work that way. You're just spinning your wheels in a vicious cycle.

If you aren't a cold-blooded shark (and honestly, I'm not) and if you aren't some kind of sociopath (which I'm betting isn't you, since you actually want to change)... then this conflict might feel good for a second, but eventually, the guilt starts eating at you. You'll hit a point where you stop and ask yourself... what was the point of all that?

If you don't want to be haunted by your past, just own it as part of growing up. Apologize to the people you might have hurt. Then, do your best to move forward.

Good luck.

Wow, beautifully put.🙂 I'd agree with everything said here, and I'd just add that the OP (whose initial post is basically just a stubborn desire to force a change in behavior that just won't budge) really needs to work on their own inner integrity and peace of mind.
You're never going to solve a problem like this by attacking someone else or overthinking what that person "deserved" to trigger our reaction. Only looking inward at your own "self" actually gets results. You can do that through creative projects, sports, meditation, or just diving into learning something you love... When a person focuses on "building" themselves, they become better, more purposeful, and more impactful to the world. They react with more coordination, empathy, and—most importantly—they think before they act.
Using "character" as an excuse is, in my opinion, a terrible way to live. If we just blamed everything on unchangeable personality traits, we wouldn't even be able to close the doors on new apartments in a suburban housing development!😁
David Mendoza73 David Mendoza73 MemberOP
14 messages
joined Jun 2012
#24 ·
Kevin Bailey2 said:Grow up.

This kind of behavior is basically just immaturity fueled by deep-seated insecurities.

I’ve caught myself doing this plenty of times, and it forced me to take a hard look in the mirror. What am I actually doing, and why?
Usually, it's an attempt to fix my own flaws by projecting them onto someone else.
The root cause is often just repressed fear—fear of being hurt. And fear and aggression are two sides of the same coin, whether it's verbal or physical.

Sure, lashing out might give you a momentary rush... but...
It doesn't work that way. You're just spinning your wheels in a vicious cycle.

If you aren't a cold-blooded shark (and honestly, I'm not) and if you aren't some kind of sociopath (which I'm betting isn't you, since you actually want to change)... then this conflict might feel good for a second, but eventually, the guilt starts eating at you. You'll hit a point where you stop and ask yourself... what was the point of all that?

If you don't want to be haunted by your past, just own it as part of growing up. Apologize to the people you might have hurt. Then, do your best to move forward.

Good luck.

Exactly. I finally realized that, so I'm trying to put it into practice. We'll see how it goes. 🙂
David Mendoza73 David Mendoza73 MemberOP
14 messages
joined Jun 2012
#25 ·
Sophia Jones5 said:Wow, beautifully put.🙂 I'd agree with everything said here, and I'd just add that the OP (whose initial post is basically just a stubborn desire to force a change in behavior that just won't budge) really needs to work on their own inner integrity and peace of mind.
You're never going to solve a problem like this by attacking someone else or overthinking what that person "deserved" to trigger our reaction. Only looking inward at your own "self" actually gets results. You can do that through creative projects, sports, meditation, or just diving into learning something you love... When a person focuses on "building" themselves, they become better, more purposeful, and more impactful to the world. They react with more coordination, empathy, and—most importantly—they think before they act.
Using "character" as an excuse is, in my opinion, a terrible way to live. If we just blamed everything on unchangeable personality traits, we wouldn't even be able to close the doors on new apartments in a suburban housing development!😁

I used to comfort myself—or make excuses, if we're being honest—with that whole "*this is just who I am, I can't change*" routine. But then I realized there was something deeper bothering me, which is why I was reacting that way in the first place.
Kevin Bailey2 Kevin Bailey2 Regular
265 messages
joined Jul 2012
#26 ·
David Mendoza73 said:I used to comfort myself—or make excuses, if we're being honest—with that whole "*this is just who I am, I can't change*" routine. But then I realized there was something deeper bothering me, which is why I was reacting that way in the first place.

I’ve got a temper too. Honestly, you can't really change your nature unless you go the antipsychotics route, which I definitely wouldn't suggest here, lol.

You just have to find a different outlet for all that energy. Something constructive. Pick up an intense sport or I don't know... start a garden. 🤣
Andrew Mendoza10 Andrew Mendoza10 Active Member
75 messages
joined Mar 2012
#27 ·
David Mendoza73 said:Hey 🙂
Ever say things you don't actually mean to people you care about? I hate it. Every time I get into an argument, the anger just takes over and I lash out with things I don't even believe. It’s the worst feeling.
I tell myself a thousand times I won't react like this, but I can't just stay quiet when something's bothering me. So the fight happens, the words fly, and then the regret hits. Once they're out there, you can't take them back.
I want to change how I handle things—even the small stuff, like bickering with my parents or siblings—but honestly, it feels impossible. 🙂 Is it even possible to change your gut reactions? If anyone has advice, let me know.
The title is pretty blunt. Couldn't think of anything else.
Thanks

People are their most honest selves when they're angry—they finally say what they really think.
Robin Hayes2 Robin Hayes2 Newcomer
8 messages
joined Jun 2012
#28 ·
Honestly, very few people actually get under my skin, so I don't find myself getting into arguments with them much. I’m just not the type of person who enjoys fighting—it's incredibly irritating, I guess. If a disagreement does happen and someone says something out of line, I don't take it to heart. I can't stay mad at someone for long after a fight; I move past it pretty quickly.
David Mendoza73 David Mendoza73 MemberOP
14 messages
joined Jun 2012
#29 ·
Kevin Bailey2 said:I’ve got a temper too. Honestly, you can't really change your nature unless you go the antipsychotics route, which I definitely wouldn't suggest here, lol.

You just have to find a different outlet for all that energy. Something constructive. Pick up an intense sport or I don't know... start a garden. 🤣

🤣 Gonna try my hand at gardening. Who knows, maybe it'll actually help. 🤣
David Mendoza73 David Mendoza73 MemberOP
14 messages
joined Jun 2012
#30 ·
Robin Hayes2 said:Honestly, very few people actually get under my skin, so I don't find myself getting into arguments with them much. I’m just not the type of person who enjoys fighting—it's incredibly irritating, I guess. If a disagreement does happen and someone says something out of line, I don't take it to heart. I can't stay mad at someone for long after a fight; I move past it pretty quickly.

That person just won't listen when you tell them the truth. They get defensive and start a fight immediately, so an argument is basically the only way to get my point across.
Whatever. That's her problem now. We aren't fighting anymore, so I couldn't care less. 🙂
Scott Sanders Scott Sanders Newcomer
1 message
joined Jul 2012
#31 ·
I am truly terrible; I find myself voicing things I don't even believe, letting insults fly like shrapnel... It feels as though a massive amount of tension builds up inside me because I never react to the initial slight, so when the explosion finally comes, it is far more vitriolic than the original offense deserved. My entire immediate circle ends up paying the price, until eventually, I lose track of who I was actually aiming at or what triggered my rage in the first place. What is most disconcerting—people don't even seem to hold it against me.🤷

The worst part is that during my "peaceful" phases, nobody bothers to provoke me, yet once I lose my temper, people actually lean into it even harder, pushing my buttons until I say something truly unhinged 🤷

In the end, I don't even feel angry at myself for losing control, but rather at the people who refuse to hold my behavior against me, becoming even kinder toward me afterward... I find myself wondering, how is that even possible?
Dennis Bailey2 Dennis Bailey2 Active Member
76 messages
joined Oct 2013
#32 ·
Andrew Mendoza10 said:People are their most honest selves when they're angry—they finally say what they really think.

I honestly believe this is the absolute truth. 😍 Look, I’d argue that insults and profanity only really start flying when someone hits a wall. It’s what happens in those moments of total helplessness—when, as Lord Byron would put it, you simply lose the ability to articulate your side of the argument. Usually, it stems from one of two things: either a personal lack of eloquence, or the fact that the other person has already decided to reject your points before you've even finished speaking.

When it comes to eloquence, you have to learn how to argue. Real arguing isn't just noise; it’s a tactical maneuver. When you engage, you need to consciously define your objective—what exactly are you trying to achieve or uproot? You have to stay laser-focused on the actual problem at hand rather than attacking the person standing in front of you. Don't let the conversation drift into irrelevant tangents. An argument should serve a purpose: resolving a specific conflict. It shouldn't be some emotional venting session. Once you master this, you'll realize that all that yoga, deep breathing, and relaxation nonsense is completely unnecessary. You aren't looking to use an argument as a way to dump out negative energy that needs to be managed through meditation; you're looking to solve a concrete issue. If you maintain that focus, the systemic breakdown resolves itself.

Look, if you’re dealing with a sister who treats a shared bedroom like a dumping ground, you have to be surgical about it. You don't go after her personality; you target the specific behavior. If you attack her character—telling her she’s messy or that her habits drive you insane—you’ve already lost. That’s just an invitation for a blowout fight. Instead, approach it from a neutral, objective standpoint. It’s about the environment, not her soul. Think of it like this: You aren't critiquing her lifestyle; you're defending your territory. You make it clear that while you respect her space and keep your own gear organized, the current state of the room is infringing on yours. Try something like: "Your stuff is spread out everywhere, and it’s getting in my way when I’m trying to get things done. This is our shared room, and I need to have enough space to function without constantly moving your things out of the way." Keep it blunt. Keep it focused on the physical reality of the room. Address the mess, not the person.
If you’re going to issue a threat, at least make it coherent. Try something like, "If you don't clean up your mess, I'm just going to pile everything on your bed and let you deal with the chaos," instead of some unhinged, "If you don't tidy up, I'm going to lose my mind and burn the whole house down!"
One more thing: threats, empty warnings, and actual actions. Never say anything you don't mean. To do and to make..

Look, stop making accusations like she’s some messy child. Don't bring up the fact that she might have swiped your ice cream two weeks ago, and don't claim you're just acting out because Mark didn't call you back for coffee. That's noise. If she tries to deflect, shut it down immediately. You need to be firm: "We aren't talking about me spilling tea on your sweater right now; we are talking about the fact that your stuff is scattered all over the room and it's bothering me. Please focus on this specific issue, and if you want, we can deal with everything else later." Avoid the insults and the swearing. The second you resort to that, you lose your authority, and your actual point becomes completely meaningless. Any argument where you lose your cool and start throwing around anatomical insults or animal comparisons is an argument you've already lost—because the core problem, those things left lying around the room, will remain exactly where they were.

Apologizing for insults is, in my opinion, the absolute worst part of this cycle. It essentially teaches people that you can lose your mind, lash out, and spew whatever toxicity comes to your head, only to act like everything is perfectly fine thirty minutes later. It’s a pattern. People eventually just learn to tune you out—or worse, they start treating your little "outbursts" as a joke to be laughed off. That’s why nobody actually gets worked up when Scott Sanders goes off; it’s just an old habit at this point. Let it pass. 😂Look, let's be clear: arguing isn't just about noise. It’s about being targeted, reasoned, and authoritative.

When it comes to people who refuse to listen—those who shut down before you even open your mouth or just go stone-cold silent—I’m at a loss. I tend to lean toward a more aggressive, confrontational tactic. It’s basically me shouting, "Hey, look at me and answer the damn question!" just to try and bait a reaction out of them. Honestly? It’s a losing game. Sometimes it works, but most of the time, it backfires. The truth is, I struggle with people who react purely on emotion. You try to have a rational debate or point out something that isn't right, and they immediately cut you off because their feelings are "hurt." It’s absurd. It’s like someone getting offended because you dared to mention a smudge on their computer screen. They take a logical critique as a personal attack and slam the door shut. If anyone here has a better way to actually break through that wall of silence without turning it into a street fight, I’m all ears. Please, share some advice.

edit:
Regarding the language used here; the forum rules clearly state that everyone needs to stick to standard American English grammar.
As for your writing style, I have to be honest—some of those phrases left me pretty confused, and I didn't quite follow what you were getting at.
David Mendoza73 David Mendoza73 MemberOP
14 messages
joined Jun 2012
#33 ·
Scott Sanders said:I am truly terrible; I find myself voicing things I don't even believe, letting insults fly like shrapnel... It feels as though a massive amount of tension builds up inside me because I never react to the initial slight, so when the explosion finally comes, it is far more vitriolic than the original offense deserved. My entire immediate circle ends up paying the price, until eventually, I lose track of who I was actually aiming at or what triggered my rage in the first place. What is most disconcerting—people don't even seem to hold it against me.🤷

The worst part is that during my "peaceful" phases, nobody bothers to provoke me, yet once I lose my temper, people actually lean into it even harder, pushing my buttons until I say something truly unhinged 🤷

In the end, I don't even feel angry at myself for losing control, but rather at the people who refuse to hold my behavior against me, becoming even kinder toward me afterward... I find myself wondering, how is that even possible?

I’m the exact opposite. I end up hating myself and feeling like everyone is judging me.😕
David Mendoza73 David Mendoza73 MemberOP
14 messages
joined Jun 2012
#34 ·
Dennis Bailey2 said:I honestly believe this is the absolute truth. 😍 Look, I’d argue that insults and profanity only really start flying when someone hits a wall. It’s what happens in those moments of total helplessness—when, as Lord Byron would put it, you simply lose the ability to articulate your side of the argument. Usually, it stems from one of two things: either a personal lack of eloquence, or the fact that the other person has already decided to reject your points before you've even finished speaking.

When it comes to eloquence, you have to learn how to argue. Real arguing isn't just noise; it’s a tactical maneuver. When you engage, you need to consciously define your objective—what exactly are you trying to achieve or uproot? You have to stay laser-focused on the actual problem at hand rather than attacking the person standing in front of you. Don't let the conversation drift into irrelevant tangents. An argument should serve a purpose: resolving a specific conflict. It shouldn't be some emotional venting session. Once you master this, you'll realize that all that yoga, deep breathing, and relaxation nonsense is completely unnecessary. You aren't looking to use an argument as a way to dump out negative energy that needs to be managed through meditation; you're looking to solve a concrete issue. If you maintain that focus, the systemic breakdown resolves itself.

Look, if you’re dealing with a sister who treats a shared bedroom like a dumping ground, you have to be surgical about it. You don't go after her personality; you target the specific behavior. If you attack her character—telling her she’s messy or that her habits drive you insane—you’ve already lost. That’s just an invitation for a blowout fight. Instead, approach it from a neutral, objective standpoint. It’s about the environment, not her soul. Think of it like this: You aren't critiquing her lifestyle; you're defending your territory. You make it clear that while you respect her space and keep your own gear organized, the current state of the room is infringing on yours. Try something like: "Your stuff is spread out everywhere, and it’s getting in my way when I’m trying to get things done. This is our shared room, and I need to have enough space to function without constantly moving your things out of the way." Keep it blunt. Keep it focused on the physical reality of the room. Address the mess, not the person.
If you’re going to issue a threat, at least make it coherent. Try something like, "If you don't clean up your mess, I'm just going to pile everything on your bed and let you deal with the chaos," instead of some unhinged, "If you don't tidy up, I'm going to lose my mind and burn the whole house down!"
One more thing: threats, empty warnings, and actual actions. Never say anything you don't mean. To do and to make..

Look, stop making accusations like she’s some messy child. Don't bring up the fact that she might have swiped your ice cream two weeks ago, and don't claim you're just acting out because Mark didn't call you back for coffee. That's noise. If she tries to deflect, shut it down immediately. You need to be firm: "We aren't talking about me spilling tea on your sweater right now; we are talking about the fact that your stuff is scattered all over the room and it's bothering me. Please focus on this specific issue, and if you want, we can deal with everything else later." Avoid the insults and the swearing. The second you resort to that, you lose your authority, and your actual point becomes completely meaningless. Any argument where you lose your cool and start throwing around anatomical insults or animal comparisons is an argument you've already lost—because the core problem, those things left lying around the room, will remain exactly where they were.

Apologizing for insults is, in my opinion, the absolute worst part of this cycle. It essentially teaches people that you can lose your mind, lash out, and spew whatever toxicity comes to your head, only to act like everything is perfectly fine thirty minutes later. It’s a pattern. People eventually just learn to tune you out—or worse, they start treating your little "outbursts" as a joke to be laughed off. That’s why nobody actually gets worked up when Scott Sanders goes off; it’s just an old habit at this point. Let it pass. 😂Look, let's be clear: arguing isn't just about noise. It’s about being targeted, reasoned, and authoritative.

When it comes to people who refuse to listen—those who shut down before you even open your mouth or just go stone-cold silent—I’m at a loss. I tend to lean toward a more aggressive, confrontational tactic. It’s basically me shouting, "Hey, look at me and answer the damn question!" just to try and bait a reaction out of them. Honestly? It’s a losing game. Sometimes it works, but most of the time, it backfires. The truth is, I struggle with people who react purely on emotion. You try to have a rational debate or point out something that isn't right, and they immediately cut you off because their feelings are "hurt." It’s absurd. It’s like someone getting offended because you dared to mention a smudge on their computer screen. They take a logical critique as a personal attack and slam the door shut. If anyone here has a better way to actually break through that wall of silence without turning it into a street fight, I’m all ears. Please, share some advice.

edit:
Regarding the language used here; the forum rules clearly state that everyone needs to stick to standard American English grammar.
As for your writing style, I have to be honest—some of those phrases left me pretty confused, and I didn't quite follow what you were getting at.

You wrote a lot here 😁 (which is a good thing)
I always follow through on what I say I'm going to do. That moody silence is all too familiar to me. Not sure what else to say, except your post actually helped me out quite a bit.
I wasn't aware of that rule, honestly. I didn't even bother checking them. I'll stick to them from now on. 🙂
Thanks a lot!

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