> Long-term, it can be hard to sustain, and maybe a bit unhealthy – it becomes a form of self-betrayal, where you repeatedly suppress genuine negative feelings about dealing with someone difficult.

It is unhealthy simply because it's a rebranded form of passive aggression. The real problem is not yet having figured out why someone like that can get under your skin in the first place.

The exact same situations that can bubble up unhealthy amounts of negative emotion in younger people don't do that in older people. Older people have already been there and done that. They fully understand the behavior and instead of anger or retaliation they usually feel pity or nothing at all. Which mind do you think is healthier?

In other words, there's no escaping life's lessons. Your best bet is to minimize the unavoidable consequences and stay out of trouble. For sure, a big part of that is cutting out bullshit like Esquire. This "grey rocking" stuff is just woo woo nonsense that was meant to prime you for ads that already happened back in 2021.

> Your best bet is to minimize the unavoidable consequences and stay out of trouble.

That's the exact definition of "grey rocking." It's a harm minimization technique taught to victims of narcissists who are unable to immediately get away from the narcissist. Examples would be people who must stay in contact because of kids, or someone planning an escape over the course of weeks/months.

I know someone personally in the latter category. "Grey rocking" for the week prior to their escape was indeed "their best bet" and definitely not "woo woo."

Huh, I guess so!