Tell me, my friends: is it wise to answer intensity with intensity? Or is it wiser to resist it?
Sometimes, people respond to a question with a level of intensity that far exceeds the question itself. Their reply can be hyperbolic, as if to say, “why on Earth are you even asking this question?” But we need to ask ourselves: will responding with hyperbole help?
Overblown back-and-forth exchanges can escalate frustration and shut down conversation. We need to remain calm, and ask the question again in a clearer way, while explaining why we are asking it. Remember: we cannot control the response of others, but we can choose our own approach to conversation.
