Studies show that humor can effectively help deflect criticism and improve social relations. A well-timed joke can derail an argumentative exchange and increase your rapport with the other person.  Joke about something that's present to you both and will distract from the hostility, such as the weather or something funny about the room. Make sure the joke isn't at the other person's expense! Fogging is an assertive communication technique that allows you to give a little ground without giving too much. You can use this to let the other person know that you're willing to take an honest look at yourself and not block their criticism out completely, even if you disagree with it overall. Example: If the person says you're always late to meetings, you can reply with yes, I was late to the meeting yesterday. You can use "negative assertions" if the person has a genuine point about your behavior and you want to let them know that you agree with the specific criticism, without allowing the criticism to define you as a person. Admitting fault doesn't have to reflect on you as a person, especially if you recognize the behavior is negative and have a desire to change. Example: If you are frequently late to meetings, you can say yes, I've been late to a lot of meetings recently. I'm sorry about that. I'll try to be on time from now on. One way to make sure people recognize your integrity and grace is to ask them if they have any other criticisms you could address together. This shows your willingness to be honest with yourself as well as your lack of need to be defensive, because you accept yourself even if you have critics, because you can see them as opportunities for improvement Sometimes, the most graceful method of dealing with hostile criticism is to leave the room. This will allow the other person to cool down and protect yourself from danger. Defending yourself by avoiding challenges can be just as productive and healthy as facing them, under the right circumstances.
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One-sentence summary -- Use humor to soften the mood. Try fogging. Admit fault. Ask open-ended questions. Remove yourself from the situation.

Q: You can do this with materials such as frosting, glue, or hair conditioner. The amount you set out should be the total amount of pink coloring you wish to make. Put it in a mixing bowl so you’ll have adequate space to work in the dye. To tame your mixture into the tint of pink you desire, try adding drops of food coloring other than red. Experiment with it. Work slowly, a drop at a time.  Using a food coloring such as blue, violet, green, or even brown will darken your pink, making it into a hot pink and then a fuchsia or magenta. Add a lighter color such as yellow to make your pink into peach.
A: Set out a portion of white substance. Mix in other colors.

Article: When you’re in the same vicinity as your hamster’s cage, try talking to your hamster in a soothing voice. You want your pet to begin to recognize your voice as this will help it learn to not fear you.  You may want to come near the cage and spend a few minutes at a time (several times each day) just speaking gently to your hamster. You can even take the cage lid off after the first few days so that your hamster can hear you better. Just be careful to make sure it doesn’t escape. Begin to feed your hamster with treats in between the cage bars or through an opening in the top of the cage, depending on what type of enclosure you have for your pet hamster. Associating you with treats will help your hamster get over being afraid of you. You can also rub the treat in your palm so the hamster can get to know your scent. Continue for a few days. Before you try to pick up your hamster for the first time, you should wash your hands thoroughly. This will remove any scent of food that may be lingering on your hands. You don’t want your hamster to accidentally bite you. You can even wear gloves when picking up your hamster in the beginning if you are afraid of being bitten. When your hamster is awake, slowly put your hand into the cage. Let your hamster sniff your hand. And don’t force it to do anything. If your hamster is acting scared and backing away from you, remove your hand and try again in another week or two.  You can also include a couple of treats in your palm to help your hamster feel less afraid. Don't pull away when your hamster makes sudden movements at you when you are going to pet or handle it. You are only going to scare it even if it scared you. Once you have spent some time easing into contact with your hamster, you should try to pick it up. Be sure to hold it firmly in your hand so it doesn’t fall and hurt itself. After a while, your hamster will go into your hand all by itself.  Never grab your hamster, as your hamster will see that as a threat. Instead, cup your hands and let it walk into your hands on its own. If your hamster makes a squeaking noise, that means it is agitated and you should put it back in its cage. Take some more time letting your hamster get to know you before you try to pick it up again.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Help your hamster recognize your voice. Give your hamster treats. Wash your hands. Start carefully inserting your hand into the cage. Pick up your hamster.

Article: If your device or product requires cleaning, explain how to do so.  Be sure to enumerate the cleaning supplies needed.  Inform the reader of how often they should clean.  Then, just as you would in any other section of the user manual, include numbered step-by-step instructions as to how cleaning should proceed.  If cleaning requires some disassembly of the product, or removal of a certain part or parts, be sure to include details on how to disassemble. Include a warning about the results of failing to clean the device will be.  For instance, you might say, “Failure to clean will result in a below optimal performance.” If the product or device can be serviced by the user to correct performance issues, include numbered directions as to how the user can do so.  For instance, if the batteries need to be changed after every 300 hours of use, include directions on how to check whether the batteries need to be changed, how to remove the dead batteries, and how to insert the new batteries. If there are some maintenance tasks that can only be performed by a certified technician, divide the maintenance portion of the manual into two sections. The user manual should, if necessary, explain how to store the product or device properly.  You should also include information about why storage is necessary, and what the results of improper storage are.  For instance, you might write:  “Store the product in a cool, dry place.  Improper storage could shorten the life of your product due to the buildup of moisture.” "Do not expose product to heat or store at temperatures above 120 °F (49 °C). Doing so may lead to combustion." You might organize this section as a list of common problems and their solutions.  Group similar problems together under a logical heading.  This way, users can find specific problems quickly.  For instance, if there are several problems with the computer displaying a blue screen, list them together under a sub-heading like “Common Screen Problems.” You should also include a phone number and/or email for customer service in this section.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Explain how to clean the device. Tell the user how to perform basic maintenance. Discuss storage options. Include troubleshooting information.