My first inclination was to start a SHOUTING THREAD. I decide to let it go but now I feel lousy.

My advice is to drink heavily and write bad prose or poetry.

Lola G... At the very least, understand that this happens to many of us and you're not alone. It's part of the human condition I think.

How does being yelled at by a homeless person make you (in part at least) too sensitive? It can be pretty disconcerting.

I agree with Doohickie 100%. Be you. We love it. Period.

I find it helpful to remind myself that the person in question is an irrelevant sack of shit who didn't deserve to be born. YMMV.

jonmc's advice comes close but I have to agree with bingo most of all. Try to find out something less than flattering about them to keep you amused. For instance, one chap I work with made himself out to be high-profile businessman with several shops, houses and the like. In actuality, he's a hairdresser, and not a very good one at that. Nothing wrong with hairdressers, of course, but he obviously feels shame in it for some reason - so occasionally ask him if he can fit me in for a trim sometime. Try it!

You guys rock. Thanks!

With the higher up in the firm, some minor bit of revenge can help... "misplacing" his favorite pen, perhaps? (But only if there are no cameras... there are always cameras, dammit... stop looking at me...).

Lola!!! : )

I like to yell right back. I was waiting for the bus before I was going ot the airport, with a huge suitcase, heavy backpack, and the dog in her case. Right as the bus is coming, a huge truck comes and blocks the bus stop, so the bus has to stop behind it. The other woman waiting for the bus yells at the guys in the truck (with an accent, so it sounded awesome) that they shouldn't have blocked the bus stop and that they were assholes. They were all, come on lady, what are you talking about, you're crazy, so I said, WELL YOU ARE BLOCKING THE BUS STOP AND IT IS PRETTY RUDE. Really loud. :-D

This week I have been yelled at by a homeless person... and then yesterday I got into a bit of a tiff with one of the higher ups in my firm.

Being yelled at by someone who may have a serious drug problem, not be completely rational and, in any event, has nothing at all to lose, can be pretty scary.

Getting into arguments with a boss can be scary because they represent your livelihood.

I don't think you're being too sensitive. Not at all.