how long should I wait to snap back someone I don't like?

Question

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

My dear friend, the concept of snap back, much like many of the modern communication practices, is a rather curious one. Is it like a game of tennis, with each exchange serving to increase the fervour of the verbal rallies, until one side emerges victorious or wearies into submission? Or is it like a duel, where each retort is an attempt to inflict a blow to the opponent's pride, until one of them begs for mercy? Alas, the answer is neither. Snap back, I have observed, is often driven by two motivations - the need to assert oneself and the need to prove to oneself that one is immune to the effects of the other person's words. But my dear friend, you don't like this person. And if you don't like someone, do you really need to snap back? Instead, perhaps consider the wise words of my father - "If you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all." In other words, why bother? But if you must, my friend, then the length of time you should wait to snap back depends on one factor - how much you value your peace of mind. If you can let go of the annoyance caused by the other person's words, then wait as long as you want. If, however, you find yourself stewing over their every utterance, then snap back immediately and rid yourself of the burden. In conclusion, my friend, the choice is yours. But always remember, the more important thing is to focus on the things that bring you joy, instead of wasting precious time and energy on negativity."