Broken record

Techniques > Resisting persuasion > Broken record

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Method

When the other person repeats their request to you, simply repeat the same words of refusal.

You may have to do this a number of times, but eventually they will get the message.

You can add other words of acknowledgement, but

Example

Yes, I know it's important, but I don't want to go...Sorry, but I don't want to go...I realize what it means to you, but I don't want to go.

It's too expensive...I know it's good value, but it's too expensive...I know about finance deals, but it's too expensive.

Discussion

When a person is trying hard to persuade, they often do not really hear your refusal. At best, they may see it just as objection that can be overcome.

When you repeat the same words, the pattern-recognition ability of the brain eventually notices that something is being repeated here and the other person starts to take notice of what you are saying. When they realize they are bashing their head against a brick wall, they will eventually give up (with most people, this will be quite quickly).

The origin of the 'broken record' name is that a scratch in a (now old-fashioned) vinyl LP could cause it to repeat one section of the record time after time after time.