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I try to avoid it, but I don't like all my relatives, co-workers, or neighbors. So, yes, to keep the peace I am sometimes in the position of socializing with those people. To refuse to do it would create more problems than it would solve in my situation. I try to avoid drama and to do that sometimes requires "going along to get along" as my rather introverted father used to say.
I am reminded of a charming story a woman once told me. She was tucking her four-year-old in one night and her daughter asked, "Mommy, do I have to like everybody?" Mom replied, "Do you like everybody?" Her child answered, "No. There are some people I don't like at all." (I wouldn't be surprised if she provided examples.) Mom said she explained, "None of us likes everyone. But we still have to use our good manners and be polite to those people. But that doesn't mean we can't dislike them in our minds."
A good indicator of a person's maturity (or immaturity) level is how he/she handles himself around people he dislikes. Mature, emotionally sound people will minimize their exposure around those they don't like...why waste time dwelling around such folks. In situations where they have to interact with such folks (workplace for example), they are still polite and courteous. Continuing with the workplace example, if things get bad then they may consider escalating the matter to their boss or HR.
Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean it's appropriate to behave rudely around them.
I'll also mention that most likable and emotionally sound people tend not to dislike very many people that they know in the first place. They either like or are indifferent towards most people. As for hate (which is worse than mere dislike)...they generally don't hate anyone unless they a damn good reason for it...and even then they don't dwell on it.
If you dislike a large percentage of the population, then some introspection may be a good idea.
Don't tell us we should just stop socializing with people we don't like. It is not that easy.
Stop socializing with people you don't like. Actually, that was quite easy...
Maybe you just need to get older. I no longer socialize with anyone I don't want to socialize with. That includes family. So much better this way. You don't HAVE to do anything. There's always a choice, once you are an adult, and you're not in jail of course.
No. It used to be I would be with a group of friends and I wouldn't like a friend of a friend, or a boyfriend of a friend or something, but that rarely happens now. I try to find something to like about everyone, and I don't decide I dislike a person based on first impression. It takes a lot to make me dislike or hate someone.
Reminds me of the women I know who get together every single week, then gossip and complain about each other behind their backs. And I keep getting asked why I won't participate...no thanks.
Most people who do this, are getting some sort of reward out of it or they would stop doing it.
It depends on how many people one dislikes. My dad once told me 'If you dislike 1% of the people around you, try to avoid them. If you dislike more people than that then try to challenge and change yourself'. I dislike roughly 10% of the people I meet so I swallow my opinion and try to socialize with them.
I never do that. Can't relate as a few already mentioned life is too short to deal with that kind of stress.
Probably a reason why I am alone as much as I am...
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