[WikiEN-l] Fresh cookies

[William Pietri]

On the main [[Extreme Programming]] list, people often discuss 
organizational change and dealing with difficult people is part of that. 
This bit, copied with permission, seems pretty appropriate for us, too:

Cory Foy wrote:
> David Carlton wrote:
>  
>>  In aikido, you lead the mind away by physical means, though these
>>  are always as gentle as possible.  The idea is not to further upset
>>  the person or draw more attention to yourself, as stiff resistance
>>  or a punch would do.  In fact, skilled aikidoists often disable
>>  their attackers without even touching them, which of course is what
>>  you want to do with someone who is blaming you.
>>    
>
> I have a friend who was in his garage with his wife one day. One of 
> their neighbors came screeching up the road in his car, stopped in 
> front of their house, and jumped out and began screaming at them, 
> obviously extremely upset about something.
>
> My friend and his wife backed up further in the garage, but the man 
> continued to approach. My friend then started to look for something to 
> defend himself with, just in case, but luckily his training as a 
> therapist took over and he disabled the man with the following:
>
> "Would you like a fresh home-baked cookie? We just took them out of 
> the oven."
>
> The man stopped and looked at them quizzically, then proceded to turn 
> around, get back in his car, and tore off down the road.

Of course, it's even better when they take the cookie.

William