"Nah" power move: advanced technique

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on June 9, 2023, 11:33 am

Some advanced stuff now.

"Nah" is more dismissive than "no".

A "no" can be equally strong, but it's more respectful to the individual and/or the argument.

The "nah" is more dismissive, and doesn't dignify the other person and/or the argument.

You can also use it with people you like or respect.
That's because the "nah" can dismiss the argument (or third party person), not necessarily the individual.

However, you may always want to defend yourself when you're being nah-ed.
And you want to be careful of over-using it.
If someone over-uses it with you, it's a red flag: they're not respecting you.

EXAMPLE

I searched for "nah" on my phone, and didn't have to read much for a good example.

I had sent an empty gym pic.

Then:

P.S.: my answer wasn't great as I was bothered by the potential power move and was too defensive, proved myself, and invested too much. The mindset behind it and the "nah" were good though 

Them: you don't have a personal trainer?
You: Nah, (I know what I'm doing)

In truth, you could say I don't know s*it of what I'm doing in the gym.

But the question and the frame still bothered me because it was a power move (even if unintentional).
And potentially very disempowering.

Can you see why?

It's a seemingly small detail.

So if you can see why chances are you're already at advanced level.

The issue with dignifying that question with a "no" is that I'd disempower myself.
I'd disempower myself because dignifying the original question with "a no" opens a lot of negative follow-up possible conclusions/

For example:

• He can't afford a personal trainer
• He's bumbling his way there
• He's not seeking effectiveness (time-waster)
• He goes to the gym to feel good, rather than get results (feelings first, definitely not "effective alpha")

All of these are disempowering.

Achievers and winners seek effectiveness.
And chances are they'd do get a personal trainer if they weren't sure what they were doing.