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I had an incident recently when I introduced two friends whom I love to each other and the next day, one of them said to me, “I never want to hang out with that friend of yours again. She’s a bully.” Huh??? I didn’t understand. I don’t hang out with bullies! But, before I overreacted, told my friend she was wrong, and got defensive, I instead asked her to explain herself. As she began detailing the things my other friend had done and said, I felt so embarrassed. This person was right—my other friend had come off as a bully. She came off as quite condescending, really. But “came off as” are operative words there because I know she didn’t intend to make anyone feel bullied. She just has some hold habits and ticks that most of the world interprets as condescending. I’ve known her forever so, I was just used to them by now, but it can happen to anyone. Are you condescending without knowing it?
You say, “For your information” a lot
You start a lot of sentences with, “For your information” or “Just so you know.” The implication behind this sentence is, “You’ll sound really stupid if you go any further in life without this knowledge I’m about to drop on you.”
