Anyone in your life like this?

[SleepyMom]

And if so, how do you deal with them?

I have a person who I am very close to that will take the opposite stance from me, no matter what, she almost makes it like a competition, who can be right more. It drives me crazy!

Latest example... She was visiting over the weekend and a commercial for one of the new shows came on, I made the comment that it looked like a good show, but that I didn't think it would last, so I wasn't even going to start watching it. She went off on how it was a great show and there was no reason they would cancel it. I was like OK, fine that's just how I feel, I don't plan to start watching it.

Since then I have spoken with her 3 times on the phone and each time she brings up that darn show! Last night she even said "well, we'll just see who's right". Aaaauuuugh! I am not trying to prove her wrong, I was just stating my own opinion of that show. I have not brought it up since that night, she is the one who brings it up each time. I can also say that if this show did go off the air, I wouldn't even mention it again... but if it is still on at the end of the season she will make sure I know it is.

I would not be surprised to hear she has gone on a one-woman campaign to ensure this show will stay on the air.

Like I said, this is just the latest example and it is very small potatoes indeed. I just get tired of every conversation going that way. No matter what I say she has to take the opposite view.

 

[bicker]

Different people have different penchants for various aspects. I had a friend who just couldn't stop gossiping. She reminded me of those women from The Music Man -- the wives of town board. "Cheep, cheep, cheep." Drove me crazy. Yet, I know there are people out there who would consider her a great find as a friend, and would love to gossip with her. Similiary, there are people out there who love a mental challenge, such as what it sounds like your friend enjoys, and would find your friend to be a great companion.

What's more, people change over time, and as a result preferences such as these change. While I don't keep in close contact with my gossipy friend, I haven't burned that bridge; maybe she'll become more attuned to where I am in my life, or maybe I'll become more attuned to where she is in her life. Who knows?

 

[armywife]

My 75-year old grandmother is like that! No one can have a conversation with her; no matter what anyone says she will argue the opposite! She doesn't want anyone to have CONTROL over her, therefore she overly asserts her independence. Many times when a person acts like that they feel they do not have control over a certain aspect of their life - their crappy marriage, divorce, death, etc. so they (try to) control other people -- or t.v. shows!

good luck - it's hard to be friends with people like that! Hope the show goes off the air so you don't have to listen to her argue about stupid things anymore!

 

[Marseeya]

Welcome to my nightmare. My 14 yo DS is like that. He has oppositional defiance disorder, and the constant arguing is a big symptom of that. Very frustrating, especially now that he's older and thinks he knows everything.

As a result, I hate being around argumentative people. Most of my friends are extremely laid back and easy going.

 

[Beastlover]

....ugh....my DSD is like that.....drives me batty.....no advice here!

 

[MsDisney23]

I just ead an article on this! They call people like that the ONE UPPER! That is my MIL, so you just agree with them and change the subject over to the weather, etc. The next time she does it, make a simple comment like. oh that is nice! Keep it simple and then EXIT. Run like the dicken's, get out of Dodge... People like this never change, only you can. So just limit your time with them.

I love my MIL dearly but since she has gotten sick, she use's that to her advantage, well it does not work with me! I know what it is like to be real sick, if she feels the need to be one up on me, so be it!

 

[Disney Doll]

I would find that annoying enough where I would probably "cool" my friendship with her.

Or, perhaps next time he does it you should say "You know Mary, you may not realize this, but you always take the oppsing viewpoint from mine, and beat it to death. It's quite annoying" and see what happens. Chances are this woman has a "strong" personailty in other ways, and not too many people "confront" her about it. Say it in a calm, rational manner. She'll get all upset, she'll try and tell you a million ways from Sunday why she doesn't have that kind of personality, at which point you can say "See you're doing it right now".

You'll probaly end up in a fight, may lose a friend, but in the end, if it makes her realize & change her annoying behavior, you'll have done her a favor.

 

[experiment626mom]

My dh is like this. The longer you disagree with him the louder he gets. I just let him get it out of his system and get on with life. It makes me crazy sometimes but it's not worth fighting over.

 

[aprild]

OMG!!! The ONE UPPER!! that's a great name. i have a friend like this. For example:
If i had a bad day, hers was worse.

If i say my husband is never home, hers is gone more (they are both detectives)

If i like a show, she likes it more.

And she is EXTREMELY NEGATIVE about things.

and then again i think she has multiple personalities cause sometimes she'll be like this and then sometimes she will be cool as hell!

 

[grinningghost]

How cool - my DH is a "one upper"! I can't wait to tell him he has a "title"!

 

[coliebird]

OMG!!! The ONE UPPER!! that's a great name. i have a friend like this. For example:
If i had a bad day, hers was worse.

If i say my husband is never home, hers is gone more (they are both detectives)

If i like a show, she likes it more.

And she is EXTREMELY NEGATIVE about things.

and then again i think she has multiple personalities cause sometimes she'll be like this and then sometimes she will be cool as hell!

Do we have the same friend? I have a friend exactly like this. Everything for her is 10x worse and if I have a bad day or something going on, she's the first to tell me how her life is so much worse. It really gets annoying, but other times she is great and we have been friends for years and years so it is hard to just let the friendship go as annoying as it could be.

 

[MsDisney23]

How cool - my DH is a "one upper"! I can't wait to tell him he has a "title"!

Oh I would love to see his face!

 

[aprild]

Hey coliebird!! maybe it's her sister!!