I'll relate a story about how to respond correctly to a stare down, but I doubt it will sit well with someone who thinks they have to respond at all.
There was once a Japanese Tea Ceremony Master who had a beautiful daughter. The daughter caught the eye of the local Warlord (read bully here) who wanted her for his own. He approached the Tea Master and demanded his daughter. The Tea Master declined politely, claiming the daughter was unworthy of the warlord. The Warlord became enraged and insulted...demanding that his honor be settled by trial by combat the next day.
The Tea Master was distressed as he had no skill with the sword. He consulted with a Sword Master as to how to proceed. The sword master told him to attend the duel and draw his sword. Then to focus his attention as he normally would on his Tea Ceremony...ignoring the warlord completely.
The Tea Master, while dubious of the advice, resigned himself to follow it. When the Warlord called him into the street the next day, he came out, bowed, drew his sword and relaxed into the calm of his Tea Ceremony. The Warlord saw the calm as a complete lack of fear and complete readiness to do battle...fearing that he had misjudged an easy victory, he withdrew from the field of combat
I've worked in a profession that required me to come into contact with folks on a daily basis where this would come into play. The response that I have found that works the best is just to respond with calm and competence. If your are truly competent to handle the situation, it requires no proclamation or posturing...it just is
There was once a Japanese Tea Ceremony Master who had a beautiful daughter. The daughter caught the eye of the local Warlord (read bully here) who wanted her for his own. He approached the Tea Master and demanded his daughter. The Tea Master declined politely, claiming the daughter was unworthy of the warlord. The Warlord became enraged and insulted...demanding that his honor be settled by trial by combat the next day.
The Tea Master was distressed as he had no skill with the sword. He consulted with a Sword Master as to how to proceed. The sword master told him to attend the duel and draw his sword. Then to focus his attention as he normally would on his Tea Ceremony...ignoring the warlord completely.
The Tea Master, while dubious of the advice, resigned himself to follow it. When the Warlord called him into the street the next day, he came out, bowed, drew his sword and relaxed into the calm of his Tea Ceremony. The Warlord saw the calm as a complete lack of fear and complete readiness to do battle...fearing that he had misjudged an easy victory, he withdrew from the field of combat
I've worked in a profession that required me to come into contact with folks on a daily basis where this would come into play. The response that I have found that works the best is just to respond with calm and competence. If your are truly competent to handle the situation, it requires no proclamation or posturing...it just is