Originally Posted by
FatManInNYC
...I [have] noticed an uptrend in customer service people seemingly trying to get you to curse so as to then have an excuse to deny you further service. IOW: "Now that I've screwed up enough to make you curse I can quit trying to correct my mistakes."
This is
so true! In any dispute, the other party always tries to get you to lose your head one way or another, in which case you have effectively lost the battle. The police do this as a matter of course: "Why are you getting upset?" Then you get upset explaining that you
aren't upset -- or weren't, anyway -- and the ball game is over. Steely-cold, rock-solid, rigid behavior is what you absolutely need if you are to win. If you lack self-control, then don't get into these battles in the first place. Swearing is just one way to guarantee that you come out a loser, even if you were completely correct in your position.
Bruce