Picking a fight

13 years ago

Have you ever known somebody that seems to try and pick fights with people? We know somebody like that. It's like he is fishing for somebody to argue with. Which would be fine if we could have a rousing debate and then carry on.

But his arguments are mainly based on him yelling at you within an inch of your face, spitting as he talks, and no matter what you say you are wrong and an idiot. Then he will insult you with something from your past that is completely unrelated to the matter being yelled about.

This person tried to pick a fight with me over PICKLES for goodness sake. I could see he was fishing for a fight with everybody else too, but nobody took the bait this time. That won't last, because he is getting very obnoxious to be around.

For example. Somebody offered me a pickle and remarked it was only x number of calories and no points (for those on Weight Watchers apparently). So I deadpanned "That is it. I refuse to eat here if you are going to tell me how many points is in everything I eat".

From across the room (and we weren't even talking to him) he came rushing over, shouting "What about when you were vegetarian? You go on diets all the time. You can't say anything about how somebody else eats, blah blah blah". Um....what did my not eating meat have to do with the points in a pickle, and why is he so engraged that I was vegan for a while, like, two years ago?

I was able to defuse it (mostly by staring at him like he was crazy and stepping away from him like he was a stranger with candy). But for pete's sake, he's getting harder to stand.

Anyway. Rant's over. Don't pick fights with people that just want to eat turkey without the drama.

'Kay?

And just as an aside, those pointing out the points had seconds on dessert. I was so tempted to casually ask "And how many points in a quarter of a pie with ice cream AND whipped topping?" but it would have gotten him started again even though it was a joke. Sort of.

Just sayin'.

Comments (18)

country_sunshine
13 years ago
Some people are just like that. They aren't happy in their own life, so they want others to be just as miserable as they are.

I had a woman tell me I make one corner of my raised bed to high, and that was over kill... (excuse me but we are on a hillside,) so of course it will be higher... sheesh..

Some folks just have to be snarky all the time.. it is their nature to be like that.. Just consider the source and move on...

Carolyn
dotmom
13 years ago
My bro-in-law seems to have politics on his mind all of the time. When he comes to visit, he and I used to get in arguments all of the time, but I finally told him, we will never be on the same side politically, and we will have to agree to disagree. I love him and didn't like the way I felt when these 'discussions' erupted. When he starts in on the subject, I just tell him, I'll not discuss politics. Period.
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cate52
13 years ago
So none of us is going ask how YOUR Thanksgiving dinner went!! Sheesh! I've missed you & your blog....girl, I know you got a life and a job... but I miss hearing about your life... I need to get a job...
hgl_gaylemarie
13 years ago
Sounds like he has a personality defect!
FlamingO in AR
13 years ago
I would have asked him when he got his bionic ear implant! Then laughed at him and said he obviously traded for it with his SENSE OF HUMOR, that it was a joke, dumb butt. lol

What a jerk. Maybe if everyone turned around when he gets near them, or puts on spit-shields. Ew. What a gross thing to have to put up with. Is this a guy from work?

I've missed you, too, Dances! Good to see you. :)
schoolhouse_gw
13 years ago
Yeah, my SO was like that. Wanted to argue over anything. I sometimes think it excited him! ugh. For instance, one of many, I simply remarked, "Boy, the sky is blue today". Well, that started an argument about why did I think it was blue? He didn't see blue, he saw different colors, and why didn't I? He went on and on!

I admit I'm not the confrontational type but sheesh. It was a trait in me that my SO just couldn't deal with. Maybe I was boring to him.
gardenspice
13 years ago
Yikes, it sounds like an anger management issue to me.
I have never understood people who get emotional about what other people eat or don't eat, but I it sounds like this really had nothing to do with food.
susanjf_gw
13 years ago
if it's getting worse he just might have something physically wrong...it's sad cause you won't know, as he's probably the type, who won't seek help...
chisue
13 years ago
He evidently lacks sensitivity required to communicate with -- to pick up verbal and physical 'clues' about another person. He sounds almost autistic. Is this the only way he engages others?

He sounds anxious and lonely -- and about to be even more lonely, eh?
joyfulguy
13 years ago
Hi again Dances ... really nice to hear from you,

Was a plastic bag handy?

You could have held it up, one hand each corner, between your faces. While smiling a beatific smile ... and remaining silent, of course!

On the other hand ...

... if there was a box of Saran wrap handy ...

... how about just wrapping it around his head ... several times?

The wrap, silly - not the box!

Hope you have a great week ... what's left of it.

ole joyful
pattico_gw
13 years ago
What's up with him...you say he's always like that...I suppose he's family...and if you want to see the rest of the family you have to put up with him.

I think the "head" of the family needs to tell him to cool it or stay home.

We love you best anyway....8)

Good to see you posting...I miss you and your posts.

patti
joan_mn
13 years ago
First off, I can't stand for someone to be in my space! Yuck. And a spitter...I'd probably vomit on him. That'd shut him up or at least keep him away from me!
Cherryfizz
13 years ago
Hiya Dances

Hmmm, you sure that wasn't my brother?

I can't talk to my brother who is 6 years older than me about anything, I can't ask for advice because he will take anything I say to him and turn it into an arguement. I don't even have to be talking to him and he attacks. Been this way to me all of my life. I became his worse enemy the day I was born and took his spot as the youngest. I have learned to not talk to him at all, even about good things that happen to me. LOL My sisters and I always tell my sweet sister-in-law she must have done something bad in a past life to end up marrying my brother. LOLOL

She notices my brother is talking to his 20 something year old daughters the same way he talks to me and she called him on it - telling him he is treating them jus tlike he treats me and it isn't nice. Finally, she gets it. LOL She thought that Raymond was changing for the worse but I told her she is just noticing it, love made her blind and he is the same Ray he has always been. What I love most, his girls are giving it right back at him, something I never learned to do and I am tickled pink about that. They don't take any of his guff. I used to walk around him on tenderhooks but not so much anymore. I finally stood up to him and told him he was just a big AH.

Sorry this person gave you a hard time Dances. I would love to know what makes them behave the way they do.

Anne
sylviatexas1
13 years ago
rage-a-holic.

Best thing to do is stay away from them, but if you get cornered, never ever actually *say* anything.
caroline94535
13 years ago
((((Dances!))))

He sounds like the kinder-twin to my MIL.

Maybe the more you post here, the more he will fade away? It's worth a try! LOL

It's good to see your dancing bunny again!
sue_va
13 years ago
Sounds like he is craving attention, and that is his way of getting it.

Just remember it takes two to tango. . .he can't argue by himself, so if you don't reply to his comments, he'd feel pretty silly, just talking to himself. End of argument.

Stick around; you've bee missed. And how is the DD? She's how old now?

Sue
schoolhouse_gw
13 years ago
sue va, that's what would make my SO even angrier - if I DIDN'T argue with him. That's why I say he must have gotten some excitement out of it, but then I've also heard that men prefer a woman to not be passive all the time. Well, I just thought arguing about stupid things was a waste of time that's all.

susanjf, you know I have to mention that John did die of a stroke five years ago this November,and at the young age of 51. So, you are correct in thinking that sometimes medical conditions can play a part in someone's behavior. My girlfriend and I talked about this some time later. Too late.
marcy345
13 years ago
He comes across as a drunk, bully to me. Bully for sure. I hate Bullies and I don't back down, much to my DBF's dismay. I have a real good bull Sh%t detector and a bad case of bi polar temper, if provoked. =) So maybe he's a drunk, and a bully with a bi polar disorder. =) You can blame anything on bi polar. I'm as apt to commit homicide as suicide, but I don't believe in the one and haven't been driven to the other--yet.

Picking a fight

Comments (18)

country_sunshine

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