You may be tempted to respond to snarky comments with your own, but you should avoid this if you don't want a fight to develop. Instead, stay calm and respond assertively. When communicating with me, please be direct and avoid using sarcasm. If you have something to tell me, say it clearly without trying to imply anything offensive. I am willing to listen to you and understand your frustration, but it is important to communicate properly.
On the other hand, if someone ignores your messages or claims to be too busy to respond, they are exhibiting passive-aggressive behavior. They may be trying to control you by withholding information about their thoughts and actions. This leaves you feeling uncertain and wondering about their intentions. Such a person wants you to feel bad. The best way to deal with him is to simply forget about them, move on with life, and wait for the silence to end. As soon as they see that you are unaffected, they will come to talk to you on their own. Never reward such behavior. Even for adults, reward leads to repetitive patterns.
While it's generally recommended to avoid telling lies, in some situations, they can be useful in resolving bigger issues. For example, if someone tends to be passive-aggressive and their behavior could potentially cause harm, a small lie might be necessary. This doesn't mean hiding important information or being dishonest with your loved ones; rather, it's a trick that can help ensure that meetings and assignments are completed on time. All you have to do is move the deadline or meeting date up slightly, depending on how often that person tends to be late. In the worst-case scenario, they'll end up waiting for you and experience the same frustration you normally feel when they're late.
Sometimes, individuals use condescending comments as a way to conceal their passive-aggressive behavior. These comments may appear as words of wisdom, friendly advice, or encouragement, but they are aimed at controlling your actions and causing you to lose self-confidence. To counter this behavior, you can agree with their comments, which will prevent the reaction they anticipated and put them in their place. For example, if someone tells you that a task is too complicated for you, you can respond by thanking them for their concern. Similarly, if someone compliments you in a patronizing way, you can acknowledge that you may not be as skilled as they are in a particular area. However, you excel in other areas.
If someone makes a negative comment about you, you have the option to either respond or ignore it. However, it's important to remember that their intention is to provoke a reaction from you. Ignoring their comments may not give them the satisfaction they were seeking.
If someone rolls their eyes or makes other dismissive gestures towards you, they are trying to assert their superiority and invalidate your words. It's important to acknowledge these behaviors and address them directly, such as by asking if they have something in their eye or offering them a headache remedy. The individual in question will now be required to clarify their actions, which may involve denying or revealing something they have kept hidden until now. If the situation seems likely to escalate into an argument, it is advisable to express regret and state that you are not interested in discussing the matter further until everyone is calm and collected.
