Why Do People Tell Me I'm Rude, And What Are Strategies For Getting Along With People In Social Situations?

Oct. 23, 2008 -- Question: Why do people tell me I'm rude, and what are strategies for getting along with people in social situations?

Answer: Well every social situation is different. So people go into each social situation with expectations. And so some situations may be more formal than others. Other situations may allow for more playful kind of behavior. So before you go into any situation, you should think to yourself and ask yourself, what is expected of me in this situation, how should I greet people, as well as say goodbye to people, to whom should I talk, how long should I stay, and what are appropriate topics of conversation. And every situation is different. Sometimes weddings can be very very formal, other times it can be very casual. So the answer to how to act could be very different, even if it's the same type of event. If you're not sure about how to act in a certain situation, you should talk to family members or trusted friends before going into that situation to decide how you're going to act.