My point...
In prior discussions, I commented that I seem to keep getting into situations where I need to confront someone about their negative behavior. I've resisted giving up on people, but I've been at wits end trying to deal with things that people do or say that trigger anxiety in me because I am or perceive to be bullied.

Almost always it seems the person is acting that way because they're jealous or they just can't deal with a female boss or some other ridiculous problem they have. Repeatedly, I ask the question: What did I ever do to you to deserve this? But the problem isn't what I DID to them, it's just that bullies pick up on kind-hearted people real fast, and they tear you apart simply because they see that they can. It makes them feel good to chop you down to size because, from their point of view, you've gotten too big for your britches.

The people who gave Jodee a bad review often commented that they thought she was self-righteous and made too much of an effort to show how smart she is. However, from a victim's point of view, I can understand what it feels like to be in a catch-22, if you show you're smart, you'll get praise, a raise, or good grades. But there will always be someone watching you who says, *#@# you! That person who hates you will try to tear you down. That's my point.

Read the comments, people admited to going from sympathy to hatred just because she described herself to be a caring, intelligent person. Her objective was to give her bio so people could be more sensitive to the impact of bullying. Yet, there are still some people who have the nerve to say they don't like the author personally. I was very happy to see most people enjoyed the book anyway.

One reviewer said something that made me think about my own behavior that may trigger the worse in people and that was that Jodee didn't understand how the kids would react to her statements. When she was invited to egg an old lady's house, she said she didn't want to because it's mean. The reviewer said Jodee should have just said "No, I don't want to..." By getting into a moral discussion with kids who don't care about moral behavior at the time, Jodee set herself up to be disliked. I'm sure I've done this many times, but no one has ever explained that the comments I was making could be perceived as "self-righteous." I got to the point that I felt I should hide my accomplishments because they would inevitably only make someone jealous. I think I'm humble, but maybe others don't.

Other people wrote as if Jodee hid anything about herself that is "wrong," as if they were fishing for it throughout the book. Now, thinking back over nearly 50 years worth of hardship in friendships, I think that's what I've been getting from people. No one has ever really given me honest feedback because they're guilty of something they did to me and I cut them off like cancer. So we don't talk. I need a support group or therapist that can identify these sorts of problems.

Jodee's intro describes how adult victims of bullying become overachievers as she did. I'm guilty. We feel confidence in who we are and want the best for others. No matter how often we say care about others and always want to do the right thing, SOMEONE will come along and pick on us BECAUSE we want to do the right thing.

I wish someone could help me understand it. It's such a sad world.

After all the relationships I've ever had with friends, family, and coworkers, all I have to show for it is a paycheck, house, car, and a mate who doesn't get what the problem is. No one. I can forgive people and try to reunite, but I live in fear that they'll only hurt me again. These aren't petty things either. Stealing from me, threatening phone calls, excluding me, spreading gossip about , criticizing my looks in a nasty manner to hurt my feelings in public, it goes on and on.