Questions tagged [conflict-aversion]

For questions regarding to the avoiding of an imminent conflict, or the general avoiding of a conflict that occurs on a regular basis. Questions regarding ongoing conflicts, or conflicts that are already started, please use the "conflicts" tag.

Conflicts can occur between people, and often they do not end well for either party, which is why conflicts should (usually) be avoided at all costs. However, some people cannot help but get involved in a conflict, or some people can be caught in one unintentionally. Questions here should be about yourself or people who would like to avoid such conflicts, or the avoiding of conflicts that could occur in the future.

If your question pertains to ongoing conflicts, or conflicts that are already started, please use the tag.

This tag can also be used with other tags such as if the conflict is with a friend, for example.

481 questions
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When someone states a view I don't agree with, and asks for confirmation, how to avoid giving it without triggering a debate?

There are many people who, after stating their political, religious or ideological view, or an opinion in a debated or controversial topic, explicitly ask for confirmation. For example, "Am I right?", "Isn't it so?" Assuming it's not done in bad…
vsz
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How to ask for redress of a grievance that "ruins" a long held family tradition in way that does not ruin things?

Until now, my family and I had a tradition of making waffles and eating them on Christmas morning. The devices used to make said waffles were two 70s era electric waffle makers. Suffice to say that waffles are not considered "legit" for the…
user2014
10
votes
6 answers

Confronting sibling over unappreciated effort

I'm in my late twenties and my brother is in his late teens. He has always been a skinny kid so recently we decided that I would be taking over his physical development. He explicitly told me that he wanted to get bigger and would be willing to…
John
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How to reply genuinely (but politely) to apologies for lateness?

How can I answer tactfully but sincerely latecomers' apologies for being (very) late? I refuse, and it appears insincere, to answer with phrases that forgive them (e.g. It's nothing/all right. Don't worry about it.), when their lateness are not…
user2423
8
votes
6 answers

How can you politely convince someone that if their apology were sincere, they would have done more?

You are complaining to a corporation or the government who replies with a disingenuous prolonged apology (aka non-apology apology), but totally fails to solve your difficulty. In a further complaint, does it help you to discredit and dismiss their…
user2423
3
votes
2 answers

How to tell neighbour: "no problem, but you should not do it again"

TL;DR: I want to find the most polite way to tell my neighbour that it's not a problem, but they should not do it again. The incident: We live in a condo, i.e. we own the unit but the common area, managed by the HOA, is belonged to everyone (or no…
sean
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How to ask someone not to use a voice that irritates me?

I work with a lady who sometimes uses an extremely irritating voice. She is very friendly, and I enjoy talking to her, but when she uses this certain voice I just want to pull my hair out. I try to get busy with something else but this seems to…
user15945
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How can I tactfully ask doctors if their equipment have been cleaned?

A doctor asked my mother to blow into a spirometer, which required a fixed (non-replaceable) tube inserted into her mouth. The doctor didn't sanitize it in her presence. But she didn't know how to ask, without offending the doctor, if this tube had…
user2423
1
vote
1 answer

How to tell politely someone it's none of their business?

I was thinking of making this two separate questions but I think the two together are closely related and affect each other. I've had the experience a few times were someone is trying to get me to do something or ask me questions that really is…
refbobby
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How can I tactfully ask a stranger to cover mouth when coughing?

Presume that I can't flee the stranger, who's so nearby (e.g. airplane seatmate) that I can feel her coughs every 5 minutes.
user2423