It can be the cause of much happiness. Human reaction
runs the full scale from the highest degree of ecstasy to
the most violent degree of hatred.
We shall confine our discussion here only to
some of the frouble-escalating forms of reaction and over-
reaction-especially to our responses when our feeling of
importance (real or imagined) is demeaned or attacked.
Our natural instinct is to react in defense of our feeling
of importance, using such weapons as we think appro-
priate, ranging from sarcastic, insulting, or threatening
responses (written or oral or even implied) to physical
attack (overt or subversive).
Thus WE escalate trouble, and if we over-
react, we magnify it at the same time.
Our adversary then becomes our enemy and
in turn, reacts or over-reacts accordingly. What started as
a spark is fanned into a blaze which becomes a serious fire
and finally an inferno.
Why?
Because WE unnecessarily reacted or, worse,
over-reacted.
The way to prevent escalation of trouble is
not to escalate it yourself. Just because somebody starts the
fire of trouble you don't have to pour gasoline on it! In fact,
you will do better to do nothing. Then it will remain your
adversary's fire to bum his own fingers in the tending.
The best reaction to would-be trouble-makers
is to completely ignore them. Nothing is more defusing to
another's explosive temper than total indifference. As a
response to an affront, indifference is much more effective