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AIBU?

Why do I end up alienating people whenever I stick up for myself or won't do as they say?

42 replies

911AreBack · 06/02/2013 14:46

Other people seem to get away with being true to themselves and everyone respects them for it.

First example; my 6 year old DD fell out with a friend at school. Her mum was a friend and blamed the argument solely on DD, which I thought was unfair, as having heard DD's side of the story it did sound as though it was just six of one and half a dozen of the other. The mum phoned me up and was quite aggressive about it all and really was very negative about my DD, and I said that I thought it was just a kids' argument and that perhaps we should leave them to sort it out amongst themselves. She slammed the phone down and has refused to speak to me ever since. This was about 4 months ago.

Second example: my sister keeps cancelling plans we've made to meet up for lunch, as she's been invited elsewhere by friends. It happened twice recently and when it happened for the third time the other day I said that I was upset that she kept cancelling on me as I'd been looking forward to meeting. Cue a torrent of nastiness from my sister, saying I was difficult and I would alienate people by being the way I am.

Third example: A friend relied on me to do lots of favours but it was never reciprocated, and when I started saying that I could not do things for her, she got quite arsey each time I said no, and now never contacts me and is passive aggressive towards me on Facebook and if she sees me.

I want to just be true to myself and not care what anyone thinks but whenever I try to act as anything other than a door mat people get annoyed with me.

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CailinDana · 06/02/2013 14:59

There could be a couple of things going on.

One - if you're generally a people pleaser and tend to keep the peace people you will have attraced people who like to take advantage of that and they won't like it when you suddenly change and challenge them on behaviour that they know deep down is wrong. Thus they will react angrily and try to make out you're in the wrong when in fact you're just standing up for yourself. If this is the case then all you need to do it stick to your guns and the advantage-takers will fuck off and you'll start attracting people who will treat you with respect.

Two - you could be standing up for yourself in an unnecessarily aggressive way which makes people feel attacked. This could be happening because you associate assertiveness with rudeness. Be sure that when you're standing up for yourself you're doing it in a dignified reasonable way.

WRT to the first incident it could be that the mum had a genuine grievance and felt you were being flippant.

Do you find it difficult to understand/interpret social situations?

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:04

thank you CailinDana; I don't assert myself in an aggressive way, I'm really not that kind of person tbh. I try to always be polite and fair.

With the mum, she is very PFB about her DD and always blames everyone else for anything her DD is involved in, when in actual fact her DD is quite bossy and has bullied a few other children. She was very aggressive when she called me, I was trying to diffuse the situation a little, and it was just an argument over something very minor; my DD wanted to play with a girl her DD doesn't like and refused to ditch this other girl to please my friend's DD.

No, I don't find it difficult to understand or interpret social situations. Does it sound like I do from my post then?

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tiggerishtom · 06/02/2013 15:05

I fully understand what you are saying, it seems some people in life can get away with standing up for themselves and some of us can't.

I too, always seem to fit in latter category.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:07

I actually think CailinDana, that you are right about the people pleasing scenario you have described. I am and have always been a people pleaser to an extent. I think I have attracted a fair few people that just want to take advantage.

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CogitoErgoSometimes · 06/02/2013 15:07

YANBU It's the lot of people who stand up for themselves to get flak in return.... I've had it my whole life. Others would far rather you were compliant and obedient and can get pretty shirty if you don't knuckle under. :) Don't let it put you off being assertive, however. Just shrug your shoulders if someone turns nasty and move right along. It's their problem, not yours.

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nefertarii · 06/02/2013 15:07

As pp said its difficult to say why.

I know a lady who feels the same as you. That people are awful to her when she stands her ground. The problem is she is quite timid. She winds herself up and stands up for herself by blowing up. But she doesn't see it that way.
I am not saying you do, by sometimes we don't come across as we think we did or plan to.
it could be that you attract people who are just knobs and expect you to dance to their tune and get shitty when you don't pr it could be your handling of situations.

Only by speaking to these people and really being honest with yourself, will you know.

I am quite assertive but don't get bad reactions. I really think about what i am saying and how i am saying it. I don't mind taking a pause while i plan what i need to say. I don't just jump in iyswim.

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dreamingbohemian · 06/02/2013 15:09

I think Cailin's 'One' scenario sounds likely. It's not really you, it's that the people you have to (or choose to) associate with are not very pleasant people. In which case it's not actually a bad thing if you alienate them, because who needs people like that?

Do you have friends and relationships where this doesn't happen? If so, focus on them and try not to worry about unpleasant people.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:10

Cogito that is very helpful, thank you!! Yes you're right, I need to shrug my shoulders and move on. I know inside that I've not been rude to anyone and have been polite and calm when refusing to do favours or stating how I feel.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:11

dreamingbohemian, yes I have friendships where that doesn't happen. Those people never do anything to upset me or to take advantage. I do think over time I've attracted my fair share of unpleasant people. The mum that got very angry, for example, has no friends at all. I've felt sorry for her and have tolerated her and her behaviour for quite a long time, and also didn't ditch her as I thought it was wrong to ditch a friend.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2013 15:17

When you put a behaviour on extinction, you usually get a negative response initially. It's the person tebelling against the new rules that won't work to their advantage. Make challenging your sisters cancellations a regular thing and she'll behave better once she knows you mean it. Stick up for your dd, and your friend will stop whinging about her.

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CailinDana · 06/02/2013 15:17

I was asking about interpreting social situations because I know a couple of people who try to be assertive and instead just end up overreacting or misinterpreting situations - seeing slights and problems where there are none. You're not necessarily like that at all, just wanted to ask so you could have a think about it.

From what you say I would agree that the people pleaser scenario is probably the more likely one for you.

IMO the key to being truly assertive is genuine confidence - you have to really care very little what people think of you. I'm not saying you shouldn't need people's love and approval or in any way be rude, more that, say, in the situation with that mum it should be possible for you to say "Oh well she's very PFB" and move on and not let it bother you. Being assertive doesn't mean everyone agrees with what you say, far from it. I'm assertive and I get a lot of respect from people but I am certainly not everyone's favourite and I have fallen out with people over the years. But the people I respect appreciate and understand my assertiveness - I'm not aggressive, I'm totally willing to back down if I see I'm wrong, I'm just not easily swayed!

Your sister sounds like a piece of work - is that normal behaviour for her? I ask because I have a very very difficult sister who does not like me standing up for myself either. We don't have a relationship at all because I won't accept her oh-so-helpful stream of bullshit constructive criticism.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 06/02/2013 15:17

And, try and care less. If friend is out of your life, so what?

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Goldmandra · 06/02/2013 15:21

I think I'm quite like you 911.

I think people I see socially expect me to be a bit of a pleaser so if I do stand up for myself they aren't expecting it and react more strongly.

I have noticed that since I've been fighting for school provision for my DDs I have become more assertive from first meeting people involved in that struggle and they seem to accept me standing my ground more easily. Maybe they don't expect me to bend to their will so easily so it's not a surprise when I stand firm.

I have been in the position of taking a phone call from someone whose DD had been bullying mine (significantly for two years) and she then laid into me for not backing down and agreeing it was my DD's own fault. It's a horrible feeling and the injustice stays with you but you did the right thing by not engaging with the mother who was blaming your DD. She is the one with the problem, not you.

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CartedOff · 06/02/2013 15:22

I think it's them, not you. All of their behaviour was over the top and extremely rude. What you said was civil and fine.

Block that rude cow on facebook btw.

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MrsBethel · 06/02/2013 15:23

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't see three examples of you alienating people. I see three examples of other people being a bit nasty. That's life.

However, it does sound a bit like disagreeing with people could be a bit of a 'big deal' for you. I know a few people who find disagreements difficult, and so avoid them whenever possible, and often sort of passively end up in a position where they have to 'make a stand'. It sort of ramps up the tension, whereas someone a bit more free with their opinions would have nipped it in the bud a long time ago.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:23

Starlight you are right, I need to care less. It's hard though.

Cailin, thank you for clarifying what you meant. I completely see what you are saying. Whilst I am confident to an extent, I do also care about the hows and whys of a situation, and it worries me, for example, what other school mums may think of me because this other mum doesn't speak to me any longer. When actually it doesn't matter? Have you got any tips on how to just not care about things? Have you always been like it or is it something you've developed over time?

Lets just say my sister is fine and dandy if everything is going her way. If I accept her cancelling things and accept being treated a bit second class then yes all is fine. If I disagree or challenge things then it's not fine. I worry she will cut me off though if I protest too much but I was just so upset at the incident I described earlier that it just came out of my mouth that I was disappointed.

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CailinDana · 06/02/2013 15:23

X-posted - I saw what you said about feeling sorry for that mum and maintaining the friendship in spite of her behaviour. I would definitely say in that case that you're sending out the signal that you'll tolerate being treated badly and when you suddenly don't tolerate it any more then you get a very negative reaction. At some point you've picked up the idea that you must keep others happy even if they don't reciprocate. Not a good way to be, it just leads to the situations you're experiencing at the moment. You need to be clear in your own mind what you want and expect from people and be prepared to let a friendship go if that's not what you're getting. All relationships should involve give and take and you should get pleasure and fun out of them - they shouldn't be all hard work and maintenance.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:25

CartedOff, I think I will block her.

MrsBethel, yes you are right I do find disagreements to be a big deal. I think in my head it puts a big of a wedge there between the other person and I and like you say it ramps up the tension. Whereas if, like you say, I was more free with my opinions, I would have nipped these things in the bud ages ago, probably before the 2 friends actually became my friends. As I wouldn't have let them behave badly in the first place let alone again and again.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:26

That all sounds very accurate, CailinDana. This was the first time I'd spoken up to that mum, even though she's not always been nice in the past (bit of a frenemy). I think I've always been a bit scared of incurring her wrath as I've seen her be very nasty to others.

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CailinDana · 06/02/2013 15:30

It might sound weird but the thing that makes me confident is the knowledge that while I'm worrying about what everyone thinks of me they're worrying about what everyone thinks of them. People are basically self-absorbed - their main concern is their own life, their own looks, their own children etc. It might amuse them briefly to make fun of me or criticise me but in the end it all comes down to their own insecurities and anyway I'm forgotten in ten minutes. The only person whose opinion I really have to live with is myself and I quite like myself, we're good friends. So I please myself and keep her sweet :)

Why are you worried that your sister will cut you off? It doesn't sound like much of a relationship anyway.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:31

I like your thinking! Very true that people are all generally self absorbed.

I don't know why I'm worried. Probably because it would cause unease and upset in the family and people would blame me

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CailinDana · 06/02/2013 15:32

So what if they blame you? I mean that as a genuine question.

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:39

It would probably have repercussions. My parents would side with my sister. It would affect my kids.

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CailinDana · 06/02/2013 15:41

I think I'm seeing where your people-pleasing tendencies might have come from! Do they always side with your sister?

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911AreBack · 06/02/2013 15:42

They do, yes.

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