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Nobody likes to be patronized. But there are a lot of individuals out there who, for whatever reason—insecurity, a self-worth complex, anger issues, bullied in high school—are regularly condescending to the people they encounter. Perhaps you deal with someone like this every day, whether in a coworker, a landlord, a coffee shop barista, or a neighbor. You dread interactions with this person because you feel they somehow use their conversations with you to feel powerful. And you know they feel anything but—you know they feel insecure and need to patronize to feel better because it is them who seek out these interactions with you. You find yourself wondering, “If they apparently think I’m so dumb, then why do they keep talking to me?” It’s because, truly, they feel bad on the inside and making others feel bad makes them feel better. But that’s their problem; not yours. Here is how to deal with a condescending person.
Cut them off
This person is already being rude to you so you don’t owe them the courtesy of being polite by listening. Just completely interrupt them, mid-sentence, even if it feels odd. Interrupt them and bring up something else entirely. Or, interrupt and say, “I was actually in a rush and can’t talk right now.” It will totally derail them. You don’t need to politely wait until a rude person is finished talking. Interrupt.
