I don’t think it really matters “why” people are a problem. I have no control over them. I only have control over me.
So, I am careful. I do what is best to keep my own well-being in mind. I know the people I choose to interact with. I don’t go places alone unless I am very familiar with the location, its environment, and the types of people who frequent the venue. I make smart choices.
Not everyone I meet is “friend” material. Some people are just acquaintances for a particular activity, but I know that some people are just not my kind of people. Thus, beyond that particular activity, I don’t give them much thought, and even within an activity there are just people I steer clear of. I’m choosy.
I don’t interact personally with people I only know from forums or chats. That’s just incredibly unsafe (and honestly, I don’t privately interact with people I don’t personally know in real life on technology. Too many bad players out there.)
I don’t do drama. I just don’t. I am averse to adults who act like the teenagers I teach. I don’t interact with that kind of crowd.
I am generally rather private. I keep my crap to myself. I don’t want to be a therapist to people; it’s sort of that drama thing I avoid. And it goes both ways. I save my personal stuff ONLY for my most trusted friends and loved ones, and even then I am careful about what I share with which people. Not everyone needs to know everything about me, nor is everyone capable of truly hearing and being able to process everything. I am not either. We have to have common sense boundaries about ourselves.
That may sound like I must not do anything or have friends, but it isn’t the case. I am very actively involved in many activities and have trusted friends in each. But I am not a social butterfly either. I enjoy a small and supportive group of people and it is fun but very drama-free. We’re adults with the ability to have common interests and friendships without devolving into pettiness.
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