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You cant expect a positive outcome afterspreading rumorsabout someone.
The offended person may bite back harshly or exact petty revenge that may be as damaging.
This manwent the latter route as he recalled something from hishigh school years.
Seemingly reeling fromthe nostalgia, the author recently shared his story with the Reddit community.
Youll find the entire text below.
Experts say badmouthing others may be a way for someone to gain a reputation by creating a fearful environment.
Glen Geherexplained it in an article forPsychology Today.
Its socially risky to mess with bad-mouthers, and they capitalize on this fact, he wrote.
Others may also resort to putdowns to exude confidence, Dr. Geher notes.
It fast-tracks them to social success, placing them in a more advantageous position.
Regardless of Martinas motive, things backfired on her.
In the authors case, it is how he responded to the situation.
Experts like Stanford University researcherRobb Willersuggest taking the high road and approaching the situation sympathetically and non-confrontationally.
As he explained inan interviewwith Psychology Today, the goal is to win the other persons sympathy.
Disassociating yourself from the situation is another way to handle someone spreading lies about you.
Yale University psychology professorMichael Krausemphasizes the importance of realizing that these problematic behaviors arent about you.
A person may badmouth to feel good about themselves and, as Krause states, protect their fragile selves.
The author did respond viapetty revengeby giving Martina a nasty nickname, as he describes it.
It wasnt too hurtful, but it conveyed that what she did was unacceptable.
Besides, it happened in high school, when such juvenile behavior was more acceptable.
However, issuing such a response as a full-grown adult is an entirely different situation that shouldnt happen.
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