Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange
Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [southern-europe]

Questions that have a specific focus on people in Southern Europe or their culture.

Regions that Southern Europe includes, according to Wikipedia:

  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Andorra
  • Gibraltar
  • Corsica
  • Monaco
  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • San Marino
  • European part of Turkey
  • Cyprus
  • Greece
  • Malta
24 questions
54
votes
11 answers

How do I get someone to call me by the name I prefer?

Let's say my name is Fred. My family and friends call me that and when I introduce myself I use that name. Well, of course you can imagine that I'm registered as Frederick, but nobody calls me that. I don't like that name because I don't think it…
clueless
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37
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8 answers

How to react to someone pushing me in public transport?

Backround Today I was on my way to work on a bus that was really packed. A woman boarded at some point pushing the people already on board and near the entrance (including me) really hard. My reaction was asking her in an aggressive - but low - tone…
clueless
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34
votes
4 answers

How to approach flatmate (and relative) to stop talking about a topic that makes me uncomfortable

My cousin and I recently moved in together. We have always been close and everything is going great except for a topic he really likes but makes me uncomfortable. This topic is about the bullfighting culture. For a little context, in Spain…
user9884
33
votes
12 answers

How to handle unwanted touching from my partner's friend during conversations?

My partner recently reunited with a friend "Bob" from high school, who has also recently been divorced from his wife of 25 years. He has been visiting us quite often lately and we do enjoy having him around. He is still not over his divorce but at…
Tycho's Nose
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31
votes
10 answers

How do I address my mother's concerns about my boyfriend's smoking?

My boyfriend smokes tobacco. (Once in a while, he might roll a joint. It helps him relax. I don't mind it because it's not on a daily basis). Both my mother and his parents know about it. I actually worry more about the effects of tobacco.…
Tycho's Nose
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29
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2 answers

How to help my friend who is a functioning alcoholic?

I have a friend who is a functioning alcoholic. He's in his early thirties, lives with his parents in a small apartment and has a degree in electrical engineering (never practiced it). At first, I didn't think his behavior was problematic. He is…
Tycho's Nose
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28
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5 answers

How to express my concerns to a potential new landlord?

Me and my partner have recently started searching for a new apartment. The reason for leaving the current one is the difficult landlady despite us being model tenants. This includes things like refusing maintenance, being invasive and rude, refusing…
clueless
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21
votes
5 answers

How to politely communicate to your manager that what they did upset you and ask that it doesn't happen again?

Related How to communicate to someone at work that they are overstepping boundaries. This happened recently to a girlfriend, Mary, at work. Mary works as a cashier for a large department store that carries expensive clothes. At some point, during…
Tycho's Nose
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19
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2 answers

How should I tell someone that I've changed my mind about doing a favour?

TL;DR I've changed my mind about doing a favour to a mate, it is not I don't want to do it, it is that something came up so it would put me out to live up to what I originally promised. More detail Some months ago, the schedule for a series of sport…
Carlos3dx
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19
votes
9 answers

How can I tell a friend they need to help with what they promised because what they promised can't wait?

Situation My boyfriend, John, has a female cat. He's had her for a long time. He also happens to have a friend, Lily, who loves cats. Over time, Lily went from being a cat lover to being a cat activist, adopting stray cats, neutering/spaying…
Tycho's Nose
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6 answers

How can I politely tell my friends I can't afford to order takeout?

Me and my boyfriend have two friends (a couple), whom we hang out once a week. The guy will usually pick his girlfriend up from work and then come over to our place to hang out until after midnight. Because the girl is understandably hungry after…
Tycho's Nose
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12
votes
4 answers

How assert my wish of not being photographed to my mom?

When visiting my mom, there will be some moment when she wants to take pictures of me, even if I don't want her to. If I tell her directly, she will just put some excuse and ignore my boundaries. If I hide, she will be amused and keep taking…
Purrrple
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8
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2 answers

How to insist (and convince) on a course of action when you are not in a position of power

I help a young teenage boy learn English at a non-profit organization where I am a volunteer. The boy is considered at-risk youth as he's the child of immigrant parents and of low socioeconomic status. English is the third language he is learning…
Tycho's Nose
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5 answers

How can I tell a friend to bring something I actually enjoy eating if they will bring something anyway?

My boyfriend's brother-in-law (Bob) visits my boyfriend from time to time. Because he owns a bakery he always brings us a bag full of goodies. The bag almost always includes the following :a traditional sweet bread that I'm afraid I don't like at…
Tycho's Nose
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6
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2 answers

How to avoid same demands over and over again from landlady

This question is about a very common problem aka "the landlady with trust issues". I and my partner live in an apartment owned by an absurd person to say the least. We have been very careful, punctual and attentive all this time in order to reassure…
clueless
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