I say stupid things by accident, what can I do to avoid it?

Question

I just blurt out some stuff, sometimes good, but sometimes stupid... Im trying to control myself but what are some tips to absolutely stop?

Answer 1

You are trying to contribute, consciously try (for a while) to say as little as possible. Only speak when you absolutely KNOW something that can be appreciated by your audience. If you silently listen, and try to remember what has been said, people will think you are smart. I've fooled them for years with that trick!

Answer 2

Of course, thinking first always helps, unless there is an underlying reason for the "outblurts" (just made the word up, but it works...) Okay, is an attention deficit a possibility? The outblurts, (common to ADDer's), could be a clue? Worthy of checking out for other symptoms.
Try counting to 3 or 5 before you say something. The time may give you the control you need to edit the "stupid" things out of your mouth.
There's no such thing as "absolute" short of keeping your mouth shut all the time. Problem with that is it keeps you from blurting out the good stuff too!

Answer 3

I used to be such a blabbermouth I just said what I thought but lately I have realized how funny other people can be sometimes I think ' I'm just gonna listen" and all to often I end up learning something very valuable and a quiet person is very intimidating 'which I don't try to be' but I have learned to stop ta liking and let other people make fools out of themselves for once because as humans there is one thing that we can't stand -SILENCE- so stop talking so much for like maybe one or two conversations and you will learn that hey I am not the only one that says stupid stuff

Answer 4

Part of the problem is that if you stop and think, the good stuff is no longer spontaneous, and that's a lot to lose! LOL

But if you can train yourself to start with a long all-purpose sound or word (like well-l-l-l, or hmmm) to stall the actual blurt, it might give you time to call back the dumb ones before they are out, and still deliver the zingers.

Not too foolproof, though :-) GL

Answer 5

Make it a rule to wait 10 seconds before you respond to things. I know that will mean you might miss out on saying some pretty kewl stuff, but that is the point. You have it half figured out becuase you see and understand your problem! Most people just do what you are doing and never even think twice about it. The best way to keep your mouth out of trouble is to keep it shut. If you have a situation where someone is really waiting for your opinion or response, they will wait ten seconds, and you can always say...."wait a sec, I am thinking for a bit..." There is nothing that is that important it can not wait 10 seconds. Smile. Take your time. Make a point of really listening to people when they speak to you without making comments. It works. Try it! SMOOCHES! LORI O^O

Answer 6

You wouldn't be the first person to put your foot in your mouth up to the knee. You realize your mistakes, so you can not be as dumb as you think. Practice makes perfect, so the more you work on thinking before you speak the better you will get at it. Try biting the inside of you lip and think about how you want to say something when you want to speak. Try saying things in question form,helps others realize you are inquiring and not ignorant.

Answer 7

Just try to think before you speak. Don't let yourself say something as soon as it comes to head. It takes practice to stop blurting things out as they come, but you can change if you really want to.

Answer 8

Just keep in mind that if you keep this up you might eventually say something that will really hurt someone or that you may really regret. You have a chance now to be sure that doesn't happen by making good choices and forming good habits. That's the decision you have to make.

Answer 9

Ask yourself the question before you blurt it out to see if it makes seance to you.

Answer 10

Yo, I have the SAME problem, my man. Just do what I do sometimes: THINK about what you're gonna say before you say it. Think about whether it will be offensive, inappropiate, or unprofessional or not. If your FIRST instinct TELLS you that it is inappropiate, then don't say it. If you're unsure, just pull someone to the side and ask them, PREFERABLY with a whisper, and ask, "Is it okay if I say______?" If they say it's okay, then go ahead and say it. HOWEVER, if they say it's NOT okay, then DON'T say it. It's that simple!