Politically correct or intellectually rude??

[freshwest]

44. I love that example. It's very much like something my father told me one day when I was puzzled.

Well, more than puzzled, but I put it in terms of a question. The boys at the school felt they were entitled to gang up and throw rock at girls, call them names, and laugh at them. I got that treatment that afternoon, being called a witch by boys and asked my dad why they did such a thing and what did that mean?

He told me that they didn't know anything about me, so nothing they said was true. And that the names only showed what they were and would never be me.

(I also created a default position which I called the 'jerk box' part of my brain. To not puzzle over such things, just toss 'em there and forget 'em. Like DU Ignore.)

But back to the above, like the old master, I did not accept their gift and let them keep it. Because if you deny the abuser power within your own mind, you see just how miserable the person is.

I've told kids that anyone who comes to threaten or bully with an angry face or yells, 'I've got a problem with you!' - just slow yourself down and then break down what they said:

They have a problem.

And it's their problem.

It is not your problem.

Thus, it's not about you.

Don't let them make it about you.

You have a choice, now that you know what the anger is about.

Someone has a problem, you are not the problem.

Listen or do not listen, since you're doing them a favor by giving them your time.

But not yourself, never.

Enjoyed your story. See you later.