Hi, John - very interesting post.

Your observations about the importance of context are right on.   The power of first impression biases or prejudicial statements cannot be overstated.  People hear your message based on the words you choose and the way you say them, which sets up expectations and perceptions which influence everything else.

Another aspect to all this is the environment in which the message is delivered.  It took me a long time and many mistakes to realize the value of having a discussion at the right time in the right place, rather than letting things happen whenever, which is closely tied to the influence of emotion on our actions.

The easiest example is when you get very mad about something someone else did.  At a minimum, mentally counting to ten and considering all the things on your list is essential before you open your mouth.   Ideally you can move the discussion to a more non-disruptive location, even if that means you have to wait a while to have it.

Thanks for another good post:)

John