The stone wall of 'I don't wanna talk about it'

[kaxenji]

I hate it when someone just cuts a conversation short with 'I don't want to talk about it'. While there are some cases where it applies, namely if one is asking personal and intrusive questions, it is generally just a cop-out. I don't know what to say, so I don't want to talk about it. I don't have a good argument against your logic, so I don't want to talk about it. I think you're wrong but don't feel like arguing, I don't want to talk about it. People who use it might think it's a great way to avoid conflict, but I'm telling you now: no, it really isn't. Just by saying that, you're forcefully shutting down communication channels for the issue to be properly resolved.

If you've got something to say, say it! Disagree with me! Argue your points! Don't just shut me out! Phrases like 'I don't wanna talk about it', 'I shouldn''t have said anything to begin with', 'just pretend I didn't say anything', in contexts of discussion all just sum up to the same thing -- I don't think you're worth arguing with. It gives the impression that you think the other is too stupid to even get your points, that the other is completely beyond reasoning with, that the other is not worth your time and effort. It hurts. It hurts just as much as slamming into a stone wall. And even then, with a real stone wall, at least I would have seen it coming before I actually hit it.