Have you ever given anyone the silent treatment?
By Sheri
@tuckersheri (1327)
United States
October 17, 2009 9:06am CST
I have gotten mad at my friends before and given them the silent treatment. I thought it would teach them a lesson not mess with me about certain things. Sometimes the silent treatment worked because I would nor speak to them. It made them feel really bad about what they did to make me mad or upset. There were other times that the silent treatment did not work. My friends didn't even care that I was giving them the silent treatment at all. When that happens I get even more mad than before. They think my doing that I will break down and talk to them. Most of the time the silent treatment works for me.
4 people like this
25 responses
@nooveggies (607)
• Indonesia
17 Oct 09
I don't have the heart to give a silent treatment to anyone. I can't just ignore people like that, especially someone close to me. No matter how bad or how wrong they treated me, if they show a sincere apologiize and regret, I always welcome them. It's illogical and weak, some people say, but I just can't help staying mad like that..
1 person likes this
@cbeee3 (2061)
• India
17 Oct 09
If I am upset about something, I normally talk it out and try to reason with the person. If the person promises me that they understand and then still repeat the same thing, knowing very well that it makes me mad.. then I give the silent treatment.
So in short.. I reason and then, if that fails.. I go shhh..![](/Content/images/emotes/wink.gif)
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1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
17 Oct 09
I usually do that to my younger brother when he's being an a$$. It usually works because he would know that I'm angry with him through this. But there are times when it doesn't work because, like your friends, it seems that he's not sorry for what he has done to me.
1 person likes this
@Fireheart (683)
• India
17 Oct 09
Yea i think this sort of treat is possible but only few react to it, and it also has its effect,anyway am not a person who gets mad on others i tend to forgive people more that my character to forget things no matter what,but there are also limit to it, but i never used this way of being silent when talked at, i am open and tend to act quickly by my way.
1 person likes this
@BurnBright (26)
• United States
18 Oct 09
When you give the silent treatment to someone who's hurting you hold more weight in power because it shows you're not falling for stupidity or the need to cave in. Plus, it allows enough time for the person to backtrack what they said and if you walk away they'll probably come around sooner or later to apologize (well that's the goal anyway). But when it doesn't work for you like in your friendship situation it might because they're calling your bluff knowing you will cave in. You have to stay on ground in your convictions or else no one's going to pay attention.
@prettycho (48)
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
Im guilty of this, hahaha... I am a pretty extrovert person so when I am mildly annoyed I do talk about it. But wwhen Im really, really mad, I would not only give that person the silent treatment but I practically pretend that person no longer exists. I know this may be immature, but I would not rust myself in confrontations and talking about it without hurling ugly words.
In some cases, a silent treatment can be a means of asking for some space, allowing yourself to calm down. But it can also be a cause of severed ties, as what happened to me and a friend -- its been four years and up until today, we have not talked about our differences.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
18 Oct 09
I have given people the silent treatment before but it never lasted very long. I have had them give it to me for a very long time though and they will not talk to me if I do not speak first.
@Weizen (144)
• China
18 Oct 09
I agree what you said ,sometimes when my firend male me mad ,I'll give them the silent treatment ,so when they knoe my silent treatment ,they 'll found their mistake ,and they 'll try to correct ,of course when I know they have sorry for this ,I 'll talk to them again
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
18 Oct 09
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@seanbryan (349)
• United Arab Emirates
18 Oct 09
Hi tuckersheri,
Yes, silent treatment is the only way I know to calm myself of saying something bad and create the worst thing to happen. I always do it with my husband when we are arguing on something, he won't ever admit that he did the wrong thing and worst he'll find a way to blame it on me. On certain cases, I would prefer to shut up as there's no use shouting at him that nothing can be resolved. And so, silent treatment is my best weapon. I never talk to him and I don't preapre anything for him to eat, this way I can relax and be alone. And believe me being alone I realized that at times we need a space for our self to think straight and do what pleases me. After a day or so, my husband would then do something to win back my attention as he needs me to take care of his needs. This is routinary for us, but no matter what he is still my husband and I have to bear with him for a life long. Good Day!
@aixshaonline (600)
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
Funny, I just did this a few days ago! But we are okay now :)
It all started when we sang at a wedding. I am part of a church choir, and we were asked to sing at a certain wedding (one of the many weddings :D). It was agreed upon that the wedding march will be purely instrumental, one of our members will be playing the guitar, while another plays the violin. Unfortunately, one of the strings of the violin broke 5 minutes before the wedding starts. The only resort was to let our guitarist play a song. But one of my choir-mates ORDERED me to sing along. I shook my head vehemently, mouthing "NO". In the first place, it was already settled that everything would be instrumental as said by the couple to be wedded (wedding march only). Then he suddenly contorted his face and "yelled" in a silent way, saying "DAmn! Just Sing!!!"
Seeing that, something snapped in me and I sang. But I was really seething with anger. After the wedding, he tried to say sorry in a joking way, and it only infuriated me even more. I gave him the silent and cold treatment after that for 2 days, until he finally got around and I cooled down. He has learned his lesson never to do that to me again. I am easy to talk to, and ordering me around simply brings out the worst in me. hahahaha
@irene3184 (898)
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
I also had they same story with you. I had a silent treatment with my classmates and sisters before because they have take me for granted and I am really good at them buy they never value it. I give them silent treatment for them to realize that I am in a bad mood and they will get my attention.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
18 Oct 09
Hi tuckersheri: i understand you because when i felt that someone has hurt me i tried to give them the silent treatment and i have proven it works. People just stands on me telling me: talk to me! and they think i was inmature for my attitude and critize it so i have to stop doing this
@zhangmingyuan (60)
• China
18 Oct 09
hi,i have the same feeling for you,i am silent person,i seldom point out other's mistake,even it is big.i always think eveyone have ability to control himself,but in fact ,it gets worse.such as,one of my friend is addicited to internet games,at first,it just a small thing ,but now he is indifferent to other things only to the games,but i donot do anything for him.this made me sad.i donot know what to do....
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
18 Oct 09
I have given people the silent treatment. I don't do it to be mean it's just whenever I'm mad I'd rather not talk to you or anyone for that matter. I'd rather keep to myself. I just don't see the point in talking to people most of the time because it usually gets me nowhere. So I'll just keep my mouth shut. It's just easier for me and everyone involved.
@BlueGoblin (1829)
• United States
17 Oct 09
Absolutely. I'm not very good at it however. I can never stay mad at anyone. I could easily forgive my own worst enemy. That's probably why I don't have any enemies.
@vikkiz (518)
•
18 Oct 09
My boyfriend ets the silent treatment every other night haha!! I thi k its just a womens way of getting her point across without shouting!!
@killer04 (282)
• Australia
18 Oct 09
Hi there. I have never given anyone the silent treatment. I try to tell them what I think about what happened so that they know what to do and what not to do next time. Some guy that I knew used to do this to me but I honestly think that it is childish. I would just ignore him when he did this.
@Louc74 (620)
•
18 Oct 09
Nope, I don't use this tactic. It's emotional blackmail, we call this "going in the huff", and it's what children do.
If someone goes in the huff with me, I usually don't have a clue what's wrong with them, and I just leave them to come out of it the same way they went into it. I don't respond to emotional blackmail, and I certainly wouldn't coax and coddle a fully grown adult.
I think if you have a problem with someone, you should be adult enough to bring it up with them, and at least give them an opportunity to answer to it.
@mrfdg1972 (3237)
• Philippines
17 Oct 09
introvert and extrovert,,, the extrovert are more likely to be successful. If you are going to play silent and the other party is gonna play silent too,, it's gonna be complete silence. If you are gonna play silent you are withholding you humane dimension as a person. you feel bad about something, talk to whoever is concerned and chances are you will develop a stronger bonding.
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