"Fine, then!"

Have you ever pulled a "fine, then" on someone?

A friend tells you that maybe you shouldn't have taken so much oxygen at the party.  Fine, then, I won't talk at all next time!

This meatloaf isn't my favorite.  Fine, then, I won't cook dinner anymore!

I think I'll go to the movies with my friends tonight.  Fine, then, I'll go play poker and won't be back until late!

Could you edit these documents a little more carefully in the future?  Fine, then, you can do them yourself next time!

How easy it is to retaliate harshly in the face of almost anything that snags your emotions, especially feedback. Catching yourself in the face of a small slight (even when it hurts), or criticism, (even when it's useful), is part of emotional intelligence.

You sure were really, really chatty at the party tonight. Sometimes when I get nervous I talk too much and I want to work on that.

This meatloaf isn't my favorite.  Hmm, yeah, I could tweak it or take it off my repertoire.

I think I'll go to the movies with my friends tonight.  Maybe I'll seize this chance to set up a poker game while you're out.

Could you edit these documents a little more carefully in the future? I can see where I was a little sloppy on that project; editing isn't my strong suit generally.

It may seem utterly corny but a simple pause (and deletion of the "Fine, then!") brings a moment of calm, empathic awareness and a chance to frame an accountable reply.  That pause can save the relationship or stave off a conflict.