Sometimes when two people are talking words get misunderstood, assumptions are made and an argument is the result. The situation I am about to describe is a great example of assumptions leading to an argument. I misunderstood the words of the listener and assumed she meant what she said negatively. The outcome was the complete opposite of what she had intended, She only wanted to warn my mother and I of the dangers of late model SUV's, but I overreacted and we ended up in a huge argument that lasted for about a week.
A few weeks ago, my mother and I stopped by my Aunt Jessica's house, we were supposed to be having dinner over there later that night, but my mom and my grandma, who was staying with Jessica, were getting their hair cut first. On our way, we swung to pick up my grandma at Jessica's. We had decided that I should drive my mom's new car, a Ford Explorer, because I didn't have much experience with it and since it wasn't a very long distance to drive it wouldn't be too bad. We went inside Jessica's house, just to say hello, and pick up my Grandma. While we were inside Jessica asked where we were going, and my mom told her they were going to get a hair cut. Rita offered to let my sister and I stay there while my mom went, but I declined, explaining to her that I wanted to drive my mom's car. Jessica looked a little disturbed, and she said, "Can I tell you my feelings on that?" "Inexperienced driver and late model SUV bad combination! Not safe!" Now, I immediately got offended, because I assumed that she was saying I was a bad driver, so I got all upset and called her paranoid, saying that she freaks out over the smallest things, and she watches too much "Dateline." I also turned to my mom and said "Mother, don't you dare become as paranoid as her!" because my mom looked like she was agreeing with Jessica and wasn't going to let me drive. For a few minutes after that we both continued to say a few things we probably shouldn't have.
