I was reminded of this abrasive personality trait the other night when out with someone who does this: in response to almost any sentence where you are seeking confirmation, whether by asking a question or not, the response is “No! blah blah blah”, whether or not you are correct.
It was like this.
Her: Do you know what the label ‘Veuve Clicquot’ means?
Me: Umm, (dredging memory), it’s something familial isn’t it?
Her: No! It means ‘widow Clicquot’.
me:
I had a boss many years ago who frequently did the same kind of thing.
Me: So we should do X before we start on Y, right?
Him: No! Get X done first and then do Y!
Me:
Another time…
Me: Is this something important?
Him: No! … It’s fucking important! Leave it on my desk.
I’m pretty sure in the boss’ case it was a power trip kind of thing - shout “No! Do XYZ” at people a lot and it will make you look like a pogi (person of great importance) to anyone in listening range. Obnoxious though.
Is it just me or have other people come across this kind of behavior and it grates against them?
Your first example is typical of what I experience, and i don’t consider it a big deal, and try hard not to get annoyed - I just adjust my estimate of the other person’s intelligence a tiny bit downwards. It is just a case of imprecise thinking.
I haven’t run into any like that, but it’s making me think of one of my mother’s conversational crutches. She’s either monologuing or, less infrequently, silent, and a new idea pops up into her mind - and must of course be blurted as fast as possible lest it give her a headache. So she exclaims “Oh, shut up! Blahblahblah…”
Depending on what mood I’m in, I say “it wasn’t me who was talking, Mom :rolleyes:” or merely nod, go u-hu and continue looking out the window.
Back in ancient times, when I was a bank teller, an elderly customer was giving me her life story, apparently in a roundabout way to tell me what she needed me to do. I tried to clarify by asking “Do you want to make a withdrawel?” She snapped back “No! I want to make a withdrawel!”
Yeah, it’s just a petty way of being a little more “powerful”. I used to do it in middle school, when I was a snot-nosed, high and mighty, “I’m smarter than you” type.
Person asking a genuine question: Is the answer X?
Me: No, it’s X!
Jesus may have done the opposite of this: many of his statements started with Amen, which means you agree with the previous statement. Often it is assumed that he is using it in reverse to refer to what he’s about to say, but this is not certain. He may have just been saying, “Yes, that’s true, but…”
Yes! In smilies I would have looked like that. But what do you say to them in such a situation? There’s really nothing to be said because they are “No!” people.
? You should’ve been :dubious: :mad: :smack: