The Fastest Way to End an Argument
When someone just doesn’t shut their mouths, sometimes just interrupting is the only way to say a word – when that fails, honesty also works. ( Here’s how to do it. )
But what if you are arguing with someone who refuses to even acknowledge your thoughts? Well, even in the face of cold, hard facts, some people don’t want to listen to the truth. And when you are dealing with such people, it is often easier to avoid the conversation altogether than to engage in an all-out verbal fight.
We recently wrote about ways to avoid awkward conversations, especially when they involve politics , and how to argue with a trifle properly, but here’s a little trick, courtesy of Reddit user u / nfhii . If you ever find yourself in the midst of a heated argument that you want to get rid of, here’s a phrase you’ve heard a million times that you can use to answer any question: Fair enough.
Works because of its simplicity; you acknowledge them without nudging them into further information. “Fair enough” shows that you understand their point of view and the dispute is resolved, ”writes u / toesandmoretoes . “Agree to disagree shows that you don’t care about seeking and learning the truth, and you just want the argument to end.” In other words, any other phrase can only kindle a fire.
But what if they are completely wrong and their views are far from fair? Well, the message is the same. Admit that you at least heard them, and quickly jump to any topic other than the one under discussion if you are not in the mood to fight. (Or use this tip like a wicked hacker to take your mind off any conversation, period.)
And when all else fails or their views are so at odds with yours and they have no means of reconciling them, then just be honest and leave as soon as you feel uncomfortable. (Or quickly use one of our many excuses to quickly get out of any awkward social environment.)