Memo to self:

[camwyn]

You are not to attempt to clarify angry misunderstandings any more. You have not got negotiation skills, you have not been trained in conflict management, and you have an amazing gift for cocking things up if you don't do them exactly right.

So no more attempting to intervene when people are getting mad at each other.

Not unless you figure out how to summon the ghost of Ralph Bunche and get him to do the talking for you.

Comments

[kaikias.livejournal.com]

Oh, tell me about it. *retires to 'never talking to anyone again because it just. never. works.' corner*

[impactbomb.livejournal.com]

You've got fine negotiation skills. It's the rest of us who cock things up.

[drharper.livejournal.com]

*blinks*

Do I even want to know?

[camwyn]

A conflict between one friend who felt that a conversation was forcibly continued after their requests to stop were ignored, and another friend who felt unjustly jumped on because of not knowing about the first friend's experience with people discussing the specific subject matter involved in said conversation.

I don't want to go into further detail. I've upset both of them enough already.

[kelathefinn.livejournal.com]

At least you are all still talking to each other. I lost a friend whom I upset - and I still don't really know what I did to upset her - so much that she stopped talking to me and told me through a mutual friend never to contact her again. Quit while you're ahead is often a good rule.
However, if you are serious about negotiation skills - I recommend Suzette Hayden Elgin's books, especially 'The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense'. She's got an LJ under ozarque which discusses this sort of thing.

[condotierre.livejournal.com]

*hugs and offers laksa since she can't say anything that won't sound cliched or wrong*