Overused Words

Of all the overused words that can become a distraction, the most common of all is, "Good Shot!" said with various degrees of enthusiasm. This can range from a monotone version said on a truly excellent shot and said with enthusiasm when you have just missed an easy shot. On the face of it, these might be considered complimentary or helpful. But it is the tinge of implied disrespect that can twist your mind. That’s a lot of mileage from two words.

Your opponent can repeat them many, many times throughout the match, each utterance building on the frustration of each previous use as these are stacked up one atop the other. There are other words that can also be applied as tools of distraction. These include:

And don't forget personal favorites that he might have picked up in a lifetime of finding ways to irritate people without apparently intending to do so. These can range from regional words such as "Dang-me" and "Hoot" to the universal inclusion of bad words that got your mouth full of soap as a kid.

It is the constant repetition of these words that wears away at your patience like water wears away rocks. A few here or there have little affect, but continuous use eventually cracks your wall of patience.

Response

Just knowing that these words are intended for the purposes of generating dysfunctional responses should protect you from being affected. Treat all such common words as toxic. Smile at his attempts to use this as a shark.

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