My aunt used to joke "If you don't have anything nice to say, come and sit by me!"
But how do you tell a coworker or a friend or a family member or whoever that you don't appreciate the negative way they talk about other people?
I don't want to get sucked in to the negativity, nor do I want people thinking that it's ok to talk crap about other people to me.
But, I don't know how to say anything to stop the negativity, nor do I know how to re-direct the conversation (especially if it's about someone I don't know).
Any tips/suggestions?
But how do you tell a coworker or a friend or a family member or whoever that you don't appreciate the negative way they talk about other people?
I don't want to get sucked in to the negativity, nor do I want people thinking that it's ok to talk crap about other people to me.
But, I don't know how to say anything to stop the negativity, nor do I know how to re-direct the conversation (especially if it's about someone I don't know).
Any tips/suggestions?
Find an excuse to walk away?
ReplyDeleteThat's hard and I've struggled with the same thing. I don't have any sort of solution, but I generally try to say something positive about whoever or whatever they are talking about and then change the subject. Doesn't always work, but sometimes they get the hint....
ReplyDeletei hate this too- a few weeks ago we had dinner with a cute couple in our ward and she just bashed everyone and i found myself agreeing with her or geting sucked into it when i completely do not agree! i tried to start saying positive things to drown out the negative and eventually she came my way. i just had to picture those people in the other room and keep trying to save the conversation.... stressful.
ReplyDelete