Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange
Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
60
votes
5 answers

Dealing with small crimes as a volunteer

Every now and then I volunteer for an association, organizing big role play events in my country (by big I mean several days with between several hundred people, so nothing at the national scale, but big enough nonetheless). There I act as one of…
Kaël
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60
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7 answers

What are appropriate gender-agnostic alternatives to sir/ma'am?

In a situation where I need to quickly address someone I don't know, how can I do so without using gendered language? For example, as a retail worker, if a customer was to leave their credit card behind I'd naturally say "Excuse me! Sir! You left…
RobbG
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59
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15 answers

How to stop people from touching me without having to freak out at them

I have a problem that I haven't been able to find an amicable solution to so far. I really don't like being touched, to the point where if someone is touching me unexpectedly I get confusion rising to panic if they won't stop. Over the years I've…
Magisch
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59
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4 answers

Dismissing a stranger asking for help without being dismissive of their possible situation?

For some background into the layout of where this situation takes place, my apartment complex has it's own dog park. Within a few hundred feet of the dog park is a large and spacious public park, surrounded by tall prairie grass. Situation Recently…
Jess K.
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59
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8 answers

How do you politely stand your ground against authority who repeatedly press a question that you declined to answer?

This questioner is positioned with authority and power in a professional context. Background An elderly relative's mental illnesses cause stuttering and awkward behavior that probably explains her often being selected for further interrogation and…
user2423
59
votes
13 answers

How to approach my spouse about their weight gain?

My spouse is and has always been quite overweight. From the beginning it was no problem for me, I just don't mind. Yet, since we've been living together, my spouse somehow put on a lot of weight (over the course of several years). Mostly because we…
Kaël
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59
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3 answers

Addressing arrogant attitude from a coworker as a teamleader

Note This question takes place in the workplace, but I think (for reasons outlined below) that it is a better fit here than workplace.stackexchange. I'll happily close and move though if that seems like the thing to do. Background I recently hired…
conman
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59
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10 answers

How can I ask my husband about his work progress without him becoming defensive?

My husband and I work from home and share a work office. We have so for 5 years. We also have a new 7-week-old baby girl. Prior to her birth, we used to ask each other how work was going all the time: "what are you up to?" I'd ask, or "are you…
user6818
59
votes
11 answers

How to inform my parents that I didn't like their less than desireable response to my good news?

Some background: I've been trying to get into a particular overseas university for about 2 years now (applied twice before, both rejected), but I found out that I got accepted this time after a lot of hard work and effort. I was beaming and went to…
SomeoneElse
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59
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6 answers

How do I tell a woman that her pants have a menstruation stain?

I was working in my work space today and a female coworker came to give me some information that I needed, then left. I'm male. Suddenly, when she was on her way back to her work space, I saw a stain on her white jeans. No doubts that was her…
Hoose
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59
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10 answers

How do I indicate interest in going somewhere without inviting myself along?

Sometimes acquaintances or people that I would like to get to know better are setting up some sort of social gathering (bar, party, bowling, etc) and I am not explicitly invited. I know that if I mention it they will invite me, but I feel that…
Joe S
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58
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6 answers

How do I tell my teammate to stop replying to emails not addressed to him?

I'm a contractor who has recently joined a new project in the last month or so. I am ~8 hours ahead of the rest of the team and so often send emails outside of their working hours. After almost every email I address to my client, especially ones…
user6818
58
votes
4 answers

Alternative to "Get well soon" card for terminally ill?

My children would like to make a "get well soon" card for a family member. However, this person is terminally ill. What's an alternative message that conveys a similar sentiment?
paj28
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58
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11 answers

Should I monetarily reward the person who found my phone?

I just lost my mobile phone in the bus on my way to work (left it on the seat). I called from another phone, and someone answered me, telling me that indeed I had left my phone in the bus seat. We are to meet in a public place by the end of the day,…
luchonacho
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58
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7 answers

How to help a friend through a rough breakup when his actions are testing the limits of my patience?

One of my close friends, who is 25, has recently broken up with his girlfriend of 10-11 months. Naturally, he has turned to me and other people close to him for help and support. My friend is, by nature, quite needy and very inexperienced with…
InterpersonalLoser
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