Unintentionally Offending Others When Talking | INFJ Forum

Unintentionally Offending Others When Talking

petir

Newbie
Mar 14, 2019
10
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782
MBTI
INFJ
Does anyone here ever feel like you offend others when you talk?

That has been the central issue of most of my relationship with people. At my most comfortable state, I talk in an impersonal manner and have a slightly brash way of conversing (it's the way I was brought up). In this case, people tend to be offended by whatever I say or have a negative reaction despite my best intentions which led to people ignoring or avoiding me.

I can, however, be very soft-spoken and try to think from the perspectives of the person I am talking to but it happens only in environments where I feel like I am supposed to do that (for me it is the workplace, as an example). Very soft-spoken and accommodating to the point that I feel like some people would see me as incompetent and weak, which is counter productive especially in a work environment. Also this way of interacting with others gets tiring after a while because I feel like I am soaking in too much of the person in my psyche (if you get me)

I can't seem to balance between the two.

I was wondering if anyone here can relate to this or have any particular experience or advices you could share
 
Does anyone here ever feel like you offend others when you talk?

That has been the central issue of most of my relationship with people. At my most comfortable state, I talk in an impersonal manner and have a slightly brash way of conversing (it's the way I was brought up). In this case, people tend to be offended by whatever I say or have a negative reaction despite my best intentions which led to people ignoring or avoiding me.

I can, however, be very soft-spoken and try to think from the perspectives of the person I am talking to but it happens only in environments where I feel like I am supposed to do that (for me it is the workplace, as an example). Very soft-spoken and accommodating to the point that I feel like some people would see me as incompetent and weak, which is counter productive especially in a work environment. Also this way of interacting with others gets tiring after a while because I feel like I am soaking in too much of the person in my psyche (if you get me)

I can't seem to balance between the two.

I was wondering if anyone here can relate to this or have any particular experience or advices you could share
Everyone has done it, doesn't matter what MBTI you are. None of us are born speaking, we learn speech and mannerisms from those who raised us.

When I speak brashly my comments usually come from a place of ignorance more than anything. It's a very rare day that I intend to do harm with my words, but sometimes I'm unaware the topic may be a sensitive one. Time, a closed mouth and an open ear/heart usually take care of educating me so I can be better spoken.

One interesting thing I found when working with my Indian co-workers: It is extremely important to lead all conversations with "Hi, how are you today" civility even if we had just spoken. It's not a bad thing at all and I quite enjoy it. It forces me to slow down and breathe before conversing.

Even the smoothest talkers had to learn how. It takes practice.
 
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I've learned to say less than necessary, the fewer words, the better.
That's me at work.. Led to everyone thinking that I am antisocial. It's a lose-lose situation.

None of us are born speaking, we learn speech and mannerisms from those who raised us. Even the smoothest talkers had to learn how. It takes practice
Definitely. Life is all about learning. It just gets tiring on some days that despite meaning well, most people misunderstand my intentions simply because I can't express myself the way I would want it to be.

I certainly don't start controversial threads about Hitler.
Excuse me