Hi Cro,
I'll have to teach you the British way of cutting someone down to size with nothing more than a raised eyebrow and a little snooty distain!
I used to be very passive and on the receiving end of negativity from various people. When I was doing my teacher training the kids ran amok sometimes in my class in the early days. Until my mentor teacher taught me that when I was telling someone off I just had to think "I'm in charge here, you won't get the better of me." You don't say it, just think it. I since found out it doesn't only work with kids, it works with adults too. Somehow thinking those kinds of thoughts and doing what I call 'the look' lets people know that you're not to be messed with. You don't even need to say anything! I hardly ever use it, but it's there to be pulled out of the bag if I need it.
Seriously, being aggressive isn't cool. Being cool, collected and confident is cool. Don't go down to the level of bullies, rise above it. Dignity is so much better than faking aggressiveness.
ps - what kinds of arguments are you having? I don't bother arguing with people. If others are interesting in discussing ideas brilliant. If they are just entrenched in their views and the person has no interest in learning anything new (or if it is just verbal abuse) then I think of this quote
Quote:
|
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference”
|
and leave them to it.