Published on 12, July, 2020
This topic came up in another thread, and having struggled with the topic myself for about 5 decades, I'd like to see how the rest of you do it.
For me the response to an insult is often confusion. Did I hear that right? Does it mean what I think it means, and if so WhyTF are they insulting me?
AND HOW SHOULD I RESPOND??
Do you see all those nasty question marks? I don't LIKE having to find answers to questions, on the spot, in real time, that's for sure.
In my case I've always seen it as a form of combat, and I really, really, resent having "combat" in any form thrust upon me unexpectedly, so for many years I've not enjoyed that part of life.
Eventually, after much training and dedication I grew to be the "Butterbean" of insult exchangers, which was one way of solving the problem.
How is it for you?
My go to for strangers who insult me in person is "good morning/afternoon, rude old man" or smile and say "well you're a nasty little bully, aren't you?"
And no one snaps back with something facile like "It takes one to know one"?
I never get away with doubling down on the nastiness, even if I win the encounter, I still feel dirtied afterwards.
What's worse is that people seem to give you respect and kudos for being able to "out nasty" other people,.so I'm feeling dirty for what I did and getting applause for it at the same time!
There's owt so strange as folk.