Thanks, guys, for your responses.

I know a lot about bullies. Partly because I've been bullied so much of my life and partly because I've read a LOT about it. Visit on line bully sites. They're interesting and informative. (Although most of them are geared towards children being bullied at school, or people being harassed at work)

I've also got the book "Nasty People." Good book. One thing it stresses -- and I know it's true -- is that when someone bullies you, it's not because you've been doing something wrong, or you're weak (or smaller than them) or you look different, or...or...or...it's because they feel inferior or threatened and you happened to be handy for them to dump on (to make themselves feel superior). It's about THEM, not YOU. You just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. (story of my life)

I was never docile or frightened, as a child victim. Quite the contrary, I was angry and strong and smart. I fought every day of my childhood, and I seldom lost. I couldn't really afford to lose, so may other kids were out to get me. If word got around that I couldn't defend myself, I would have been dead meat. Assertiveness was never my problem. In my early 30's I took an assertiveness class at a local junior college (just to see if I needed it). When I heard the wimpy women in that class going on about what abuse they were taking, I knew I was in the wrong place. I spoke up, where it was appropriate, and everyone in the class started telling me that I was already assertive, and asking what I was doing there. Tee hee.

As for the times I've been bullied as an adult, it's been in situations where I couldn't do anything about it -- like on jobs, when I couldn't afford to quit, or in apartment buildings (like now), where I couldn't afford to move out. I don't believe I give out signals that invite bullies to dump on me. But, when you're a downstairs tenant, and there are mentally unbalanced people (bullies) upstairs -- which, of course, you don't know when you move in. You find out as time goes by -- the bullies take advantage of the fact that you're trapped beneath them, and use their advantage to torture you. I've just been through that twice. Now THAT'll wreak havoc with your PTSD triggers!!! (I moved upstairs, BTW. Didn't stop bullies in the next building from harassing me when I complained about their loud, nightly 1AM, 2AM, 3AM, 4AM laundry parties 25 feet outside of my bedroom window [where their laundry room is], or the ***** in this building [two apartments away, upstairs] from vandalizing my car... But at least no elephants are tap dancing in combat boots at 4:30AM over my head [intentionally, to drive me out], like in my last apartment SOME people...)

As for on line predators, yes, I know they're out there. And, yes, I've had people be hateful, predatory, rude, in various places. I've had people tell insane lies about me (just because they could. I started a website to "out" their nastiness. I've been on their hit list ever since), I've had people try to tell me how to post (I didn't take that for a moment. I read them the riot act, on line. They eventually apologized, to my amazement). I just quit another board because the woman whose site it was decided that she didn't like my politics -- we agreed on most things. But one thing came up that she didn't agree with me on, and she got pushy about it, so I basically told her that I was taking my marbles and going home. There are too many places to go, to stay anywhere and have to take abuse. When I see it and recognize it and I CAN leave, I do.

I'm hoping my victimization time has run its course, for the moment. Yesterday I managed to get in and out of my apartment without incident, and today I stayed inside. (One way to avoid it, although not guaranteed) Whew. However, tomorrow - as Scarlett said - is another day...