Tell me what a neutral response is.

[Black_Eagle]

I'm curious as to what a neutral response would sound like in these two situations: -There's someone you know well who is complaining to you about their romantic relationship. -Two people are arguing about which football team is better OR Two people are arguing about which bass player is/was more skilled (Cliff Burton and Robert Trujillo). How do you respond neutrally?

[Sandform]

-There's someone you know well who is complaining to you about their romantic relationship. -Two people are arguing about which football team is better OR Two people are arguing about which bass player is/was more skilled (Cliff Burton and Robert Trujillo). I'm sure you'll work it out. Some things aren't comparable to eachother.

[Everlong]

Just nod and say, 'Uh-huh'.....

[Black_Eagle]

I'm sure you'll work it out. Some things aren't comparable to eachother. Hmmm... Interesting. I have a vague understanding of neutral responses, but I just don't know how to apply that knowledge to certain situations.

[JET73L]

1. "Eh." 2a1. "So? Do you expect me to choose between two teams whose statistics and history could, for all I know, be exactly the same?" 2a2. "who cares? both teams are terrible." (may not be neutral) 2b. "M...yeah, quality of musical prowess is not comparable in a quantifiable manner, and each has skills and deficiencies that the other does not."

[Invader]

1. Stop whining, do something about it. I'm not a miracle worker. 2. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you don't like it, move to an oppressive country.

[Black_Eagle]

1. Stop whining, do something about it. I'm not a miracle worker. 2. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you don't like it, move to an oppressive country. The first one sounds too hostile. I like the second one in its entirety but I'd probably keep it simple saying just the first sentence.

[♥Mark]

The essence of being neutral is having no bias, and thus no opinion. To ask for a neutral opinion is an impossible request. In other words, the only available response which is truly neutral would be "I have no opinion on the subject."

[Sandform]

Hmmm... Interesting. I have a vague understanding of neutral responses, but I just don't know how to apply that knowledge to certain situations. The basis of being neutral is to say something which means absolutely nothing. The essence of being neutral is having no bias, and thus no opinion. To ask for a neutral opinion is an impossible request. In other words, the only available response which is truly neutral would be "I have no opinion on the subject." What Mark75 said has no relevance to what I'm about to say. You should listen to the man I just quoted, he is good at saying things that mean nothing on purpose. Even though sometimes he/she makes valid points.

[ray]

the noise-meh- accompanied by the statement 'i don't care' works wonders.

[Oneironaut Zero]

1) Be objective as possible. If the other person is doing all the complaining, but is really the one causing all of the drama in the relationship, tell them your opinion. Don't just comfort them and agree with everything they have to say. Chime in with some input every now and then, even if it's something they don't want to hear. 2) Do you have opinions on those subjects? If so, what are they? If not, you can simply bring up that who is "better" is subjective to the person listening (bassists) or - in the case of the football teams - who has the better stats. But, if you don't care, just say you don't care enough to have an opinion on either one of them. Why are you getting in the middle of their arguments anyway, if you don't have any input?

[Forsaken]

When I'm neutral about something, I say: "meh"

[Sandform]

I wouldn't know.

[Black_Eagle]

1) Be objective as possible. If the other person is doing all the complaining, but is really the one causing all of the drama in the relationship, tell them your opinion. Don't just comfort them and agree with everything they have to say. Chime in with some input every now and then, even if it's something they don't want to hear. 2) Do you have opinions on those subjects? If so, what are they? If not, you can simply bring up that who is "better" is subjective to the person listening (bassists) or - in the case of the football teams - who has the better stats. But, if you don't care, just say you don't care enough to have an opinion on either one of them. Why are you getting in the middle of their arguments anyway, if you don't have any input? I'm trying to be neutral in some situations for a very specific reason. I'm trying to be friends or good acquaintances with everyone. I want to find a common ground instead of bringing out the differences 1. Well here's the thing. I tried doing that with my close friend who is a girl (the same girl I wrote about in this thread), but I could tell just from the way she was acting that it was a bad idea. The advice I gave was to break up with her boyfriend. Honestly, I do think she should break up with her boyfriend. I don't know what she sees in him. He has an immature fool's personality and isn't all that physically attractive either. I wrote that thread months and months ago, and they're still together and still having constant relationship problems. She tells me she's not even happy anymore. I don't think she's strong enough to break it off. I figure that the advice I gave did not either me or her and made me look like a jerk with an ulterior motive...even though I sort of do have an ulterior motive. So I think it's a bad idea to say anything either way.

[Oneironaut Zero]

I'm trying to be neutral in some situations for a very specific reason. I'm trying to be friends or good acquaintances with everyone. I want to find a common ground instead of bringing out the differences 1. Well here's the thing. I tried doing that with my close friend who is a girl (the same girl I wrote about in this thread), but I could tell just from the way she was acting that it was a bad idea. The advice I gave was to break up with her boyfriend. Honestly, I do think she should break up with her boyfriend. I don't know what she sees in him. He has an immature fool's personality and isn't even good on the physical features. I wrote that thread months and months ago, and they're still together and still having constant relationship problems. She tells me she's not even happy anymore. I figure that the advice I gave did not either me or her and made me look like a jerk with an ulterior motive...even though I sort of do have an ulterior motive. So I think it's a bad idea to say anything either way. Well, tell her that if she doesn't want to take your advice she doesn't need to be coming to you and telling you about how shitty her relationship is. You can't please everybody all the time, especially when they're only willing to hear what they want to hear. Don't worry about how it made you look. It was the truth, and the same thing any rational person would have told her, ulterior motive or not.

[Black_Eagle]

Well, tell her that if she doesn't want to take your advice she doesn't need to be coming to you and telling you about how shitty her relationship is. You can't please everybody all the time, especially when they're only willing to hear what they want to hear. Don't worry about how it made you look. It was the truth, and the same thing any rational person would have told her, ulterior motive or not. "Sigh" maybe you're right. She is getting on my nerves

[Black_Eagle]

Well it don't matter anymore. They finally broke up. Guess it's now or never. I'm perfectly happy with that.