https://www.verywellmind.com/energy-vampires-characteristics-types-and-coping-strategies-7373913
you need to get rid of the feeling that you have to be polite and accommodating to toxic people. turn around and walk away in the middle of their sentence. of course they’ll complain about you to other people, but they were going to do that anyway, and anyone who’s worth your time will know to flush whatever the toxic person says down the shitter
Back when I was at university, I was in the band, and there was one guy in my section that was super annoying, and who couldn’t talk with a person without squaring up to them (and then talking at them).
One time my best friend (also in the section), in the middle of the guy’s sentence with a bored expression on her face just… turns and walks away as if he had stopped speaking.
The rest of us were thinking “wait… we can do that? I didn’t realize that was an option.”
Grey walling, which is mentioned in the article, but not by name, is highly effective too.
agreed. just with facial expressions (if walking away isn’t an option), you can communicate “i hear everything you’re saying, but i can’t think of anything i give less of a flying fuck about”–don’t give toxic people the reaction they’re hoping for
It doesn’t take long to realize you are talking to a person who has the right answers for everyone and anything that conflicts with their beliefs is forbidden. Ironically if you question them with facts about their position they start mumbling and then call you a name.
