Polite Responses to Unwelcoming Comments: Dealing Gracefully with Harsh Words

Dealing with unwelcoming comments and harsh words can be challenging, especially in professional and social settings. It's important to respond thoughtfully and maintain composure. Here are some strategies and examples for handling various unwelcoming comments politely and professionally.

Silence: A Powerful Statement

There are times when the best response is a simple, peaceful silence. Silence can be powerful, often leaving the other person to ponder their words. This is particularly effective when the comment is unnecessary or offensive.

Deflecting Harshness

When someone says, 'I don’t care for that person,' you can defuse the situation by not taking it personally. You might say, 'I see, that’s interesting. I find some people are just not to everybody’s taste.'

Offering a Wise Reply

A classic and wise response to such comments is, 'Don’t judge a book by its cover' or 'Don’t judge a person by their face.' This advice reminds us that appearances can be deceiving, and it encourages open-mindedness and understanding.

Handling 'Huh. And they always say such nice things about you.'

This statement can be challenging, especially if you feel uncomfortable with the person who made it. It’s important to remember that the comment itself isn’t polite. You don’t have to justify yourself or change your response. Instead, you can choose a polite and straightforward reply.

Options for Responding

Agree and Disagree: You can respond with, 'Yeah, me neither,' if you also don’t like the person.

Defend: If you find the person is not as bad as they seem, you might say, 'Oh, I don’t know…he’s not that bad.'

Withdraw: Stepping away and changing the subject is often the best course of action. You can say, 'Oh well, different strokes for different folks,' and move on.

Avoid Negative Escalation

Dimming someone else's light will not make yours shine any brighter. It's better to avoid getting into arguments or negative exchanges. Often, the person who makes such comments will share their negative perspective or experience. However, it’s not necessary to amplify their negativity.

Conclusion

Politeness doesn’t always require verbal defense or justification. Sometimes, a simple and assertive response can be more effective. Remember, being polite means dealing with difficult situations gracefully, maintaining your composure, and moving forward without animosity.