As you make your way around any university campus, you will run into sensitive people prone to offence. Knowing what to do when you engage with these individuals can be hard, especially if you prioritise the truth over feelings and honesty over social niceties.
Fortunately, this post is here to help. We look at some things you can do to minimise the risk of offending.
Set Boundaries
One approach is to set boundaries. Steering clear of sensitive people who might explode at any moment is generally a good policy. If they try to talk with you, you should retreat to the bathroom or leave the canteen discreetly when the opportunity arises.
You should primarily focus on protecting your mental space. You don’t want other people intruding on your peace. Discover more ways to reduce your mental load in our article here.
Pick Your Battles
Another policy is to pick your battles. You might disagree with what’s being said, but it can be a good policy to give yourself a break and simply not react to their words.
Picking your battles allows minor points to slide. While you might be right, you can’t usually convince other people, even with the best arguments.
Know When To Step Back
Another policy is to know when to step back. If someone is used to being offended all the time, it could be risky to engage.
You don’t want to get into a situation where they accuse you of something you didn’t do, and you have to go to sexual offence solicitors. If you detect extreme sensitivity or a desire to take offence no matter what, removing yourself from the situation is usually the best policy.
Stay Calm
Easier said than done, staying calm is also an excellent policy in situations like these. You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re simply stoking someone else’s sensitivities by raising your voice.
Staying calm is a great policy when the other person is going through an emotionally turbulent episode. It separates you from them, allowing you to maintain your frame and avoid getting sucked into their world.
Don’t Use Humour
Generally speaking, you want to avoid the temptation to use humour or make jokes around other sensitive people. Prickly individuals may take this as a sign that they can critique you or something.
Jokes also run the risk of being misinterpreted, often deliberately so. Again, this sort of thing could land you in trouble, especially in a university environment with much higher stakes.
Validate
Lastly, it can be a good policy to validate prickly people while also stepping back from the relationship to protect yourself. For example, you could acknowledge their feelings without assuming blame.
For example, you could just say that you understand where they are coming from and what matters to them.
This sort of validation sounds procedural, but it can also be a great way to get them to back down and make them more compliant, something you’ll need to avoid escalation.