Blog: How To Deal with Annoying People

All day, every day, I have to deal with people that annoy me. Whether it be someone sniffling during a test, someone underestimating the International Baccalaureate program, or someone borrowing money and never paying it back, I have had to find a way to deal with these situations. Today, I have decided to share my varied techniques and though you may have to resort to being tactless, one of these methods is sure to do the trick.

First, you could engage them in something else. Turn the subject of your annoyance away from the thing that is annoying you. For example, if someone is bragging about the amazing grade they just got on the Calculus test, change the subject to the brilliant defeat of the South Raiders by the Lancers at last Friday’s basketball game. Or change the subject to something you find more amusing – like the performance of the Gentleman’s Dance Club at the recent Pep Assembly. Whatever it is, make sure you pick a subject that will hold their attention long enough until you can get away from them and their irritating behavior.

Another option would be to burst out and tell them what they need to do to change to fit your standards. If you think anything positive can come from just being straight with them then do it. However, this confrontation can only be beneficial if both parties are willing to work together. Just like in a war, there are risks. Weigh these risks and decide if being blunt will work for whom you are dealing with. Personally, I enjoy this option simply because it’s the most entertaining to see play out. Once, when I got really angry, I straight up told someone that they needed to shut up and stop talking about a friend of mine. The experience was like punching a figurative pillow – extremely fulfilling, without being horribly detrimental.

Next, you could subtly hint to them that their behavior is bothering you. Overall, this option seems to be most popular with women. For example, if someone continuously has bad B.O., you could bring up this great new deodorant you’re using and then ask him or her what kind they use so you can “compare”. Then suggest that they try yours because you have tried theirs in the past and it hasn’t been the greatest.

Yet another option is to do whatever they are doing back to them so they realize what they are doing is bothersome. This tactic is potentially problematic and should probably be paired with one of the other more confrontational methods so that you are understood properly. If someone is tapping their pencil obnoxiously, simply tapping your pencil might gain the person’s attention, but they might not understand your point.

If all else fails, then you can mentally filter the annoying person out – in other words, suck it up.  Most people have no idea they’re irritating you. Annoying things are subjective – I have no problem with people chomping their gum, but someone biting their nails is like the devil to me. Truly though, the best method is to simply deal with the issues you have with others – chances are they have just as many with you.