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View Full Version : I have a confession: I am scared of drawing attention to myself.



Mermaid Joie
07-15-2017, 02:18 AM
Hey Merfriends
I have been in and out a lot and hardly on mernetwork at all. But I want to get back to doing the things I love. To do that I need to get this out. I stopped making progress on my tail about 2 years ago dispite its near completion. I always lie to myself and say I will get to it this weekend and then I end up wasting time on Pinterest instead or reviving my tail thread. At first I lacked funds and I was really scared of messing it up but after practicing and acquiring materials for two more tails I realized something else was going on with me that was mentally blocking me from completing it. I think it stems from my personal fears. And partially because something happened that just seemed to confirm nearly all of them. I have kept swimming and practing tricks with my monofin in the pool at my college. It has been my personal reset button from stress and makes me feel amazing! so I would always bring it with me to swim after class. One day I brought it to chemistry lab I left it in the hall to be safe. Several of the TAs (mostly guys) started talking amongst themselves like "there is a mermaid fin out in the hall!", "There is a mermaid in this lab!" What should we do... blablabla Finally this one TA (lets call him turkeyfish) just yells out "Who's mermaid fin is in the hall?!?" And I didn't know if I was in trouble or not so I slowly and sheepishly raised my hand and then so the TAs started talking to me and asking questions and then the rest of the semester they made mermaid jokes and puns and I just became friends with all the TAs especially with turkeyfish because he was really funny and always helped me out in Lab. If we could just stop there that would be one of the sweetest memories I will ever have in college. But it didn't stop there. There was another guy in the class that we nicknamed "The Cringe" because he was creeping on me and standing way to close to me and said weird stuff to me sometimes. I became close friends with turkeyfish, but something was off and I didn't realize the extent of it until much later. He has very low self esteem so I tried to encourage him and build him up. I thought: "hey this guy has no friends so I'll be his friend and be nice and then he won't be so down on himself all the time." We started hanging out and he started coming to my bible study after the semester ended. But more weird things started popping up: He would find small weird things to discuss/argue about somethings that don't agree with my morals. His logic is kind of wonky. It would start off as a friendly discussion but then if we weren't in agreement he would get very negative or he would harshly argue with me. He cannot agree to disagree with tact. He was always very emotional so I got in the habit of just dropping stuff and not trying to argue so we could go back to goofing off. Eventually it got to a point where we were hanging out 2-3 times every week. I cannot drive (I am 23 my mother was abusive, controlling, and neglectful so I never finished learning) so turkeyfish was kind enough to drive me and then that turned into more hanging out. I suspected that he liked me and confronted him about it several times, when he started insisting on paying for my food or would randomly buy me things. I told him I wasn't interested in anything more than friendship and wasn't comfortable with that, and he would get upset and talk like he was just being nice and I was being mean for asking him to stop. I was really confused at this point, but decided to drop it. I have had very few experiences with guys growing up so I couldn't see what was going on.. I had Turkeyfish and another guy friend (we'll call him Cuddlefish and he his own story) over for a small party at my house (to hold my baby chicks that just hatched.) After we were done they randomly started fighting and turkeyfish pinned cuttlefish to the wall! (The Ridiculousness of that sentence eases my pain slightly X) this actually makes me want to cry) I tried to get them to both make up but Turkeyfish started mass texting Cuddlefish and saying all kinds of mean untrue things about him. I still chose to be their friends and just hung out separately with each of them. Another weird thing developed Turkeyfish started fishing for complements by saying bad untrue stuff about himself to get me to encourage/affirm him more, I had dialed back over time (about a year.) Turkeyfish didn't tell me that he actually did like me until I announced that I liked cuddlefish and we were going to start dating at which point he got very upset. He started saying that I led him on and all other kind of mean things and won't stop trying to argue or manipulate my words on social media.
I think that is enough of the story to make my point. Which is that I already attract weird, manipulative and controlling people. So I am afaid that if I draw more attention to myself at school with a tail, that more crap like this will happen. But that is the only place I have to practice.

I have read Fishy Business where it talks about merverts but how do I keep the '
strangely obsessed' out of my life? I can't even mangage it now! Blatent creeps I have no problem identifyiny like "the cringe" but there are other people that slip in under my radar like turkeyfish that just turn out to be manipulative jerks once you disagree with them. Does having at tail attract more weird people like this than the average person?
Obviously I still have a lot to learn in this department so I am open to any and all feedback though I mostly worked out the incident by talking with my dad and bible study leaders.

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Mermaid Momo
07-15-2017, 03:43 AM
Sad you lost a friend, but that wasn't a result of being a mermaid and having a tail, you just ran into a "nice guy" is all. They're everywhere lol.

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moomer
07-15-2017, 06:22 AM
Yeah girl, unfortunately it isn't due to you having a fin or a tail.
Some people (commonly white, cis males) feel they are entitled to a (commonly) woman's time if they are nice to you.
You will learn to set your boundaries firmly, and at the beginning. Trust me when I say your radar for this kind of person gets better.
Nothing to do with mers, so to speak. Just entitlement.
Just be firm. And don't give them your time if you feel it's an obligation. Ever.

lotusauriel
07-15-2017, 10:20 AM
What they said. 🙄

Mermaid Joie
07-15-2017, 12:03 PM
I understand that, but one thing I didn't mention about turkeyfish was that before he noticed my fin he ignored me thought I was just another student in class and he was kind of sarcastic unless you need to ask a question.

I've observed a similar effect with other guys (most of them have mental issues) so they don't pick up social cues and my discomfort. Like the guy I called "the cringe" that I mentioned at the beginning of the thread, he would say weird sexual stuff in Lab. Another guy friend that I have would also make weird sexual comments about my mermaiding that made,me uncomfortable. But I end up attracting more attention from these types of guys when my friends or I share about all the fun stuff that I do including mermaiding. These aren't bad people they aren't merverts just weird. Something could be wrong with the way I'm communicating because they're not getting the message that I am not interested. How do you set boundaries with someone who doesn't understand boundaries? Is there stuff I can do to prevent these kinds of guys from trying to contact me? Some of them are sneaky. Are there certain things I should look for?

This might be helpful to mers that don't understand why this bothers me: I am an INTJ, Myers-Briggs personality type very rare for females to have. When I'm attracted to someone I'm looking for more of a "mind-mate" somebody who can keep up with me intellectually as well as shares similar interests, sense of humor, wit, and morals. Most of the time I don't start feeling attracted to someone until one of those clicks especially if they are smart. So when guys talk about me in a sexual way at all it makes me very uncomfortable and has the opposite effect of flirting and kills any sort of attraction if their was one. I can talk this out with the average person but some guys just don't get it.

I want to keep them far away before I develope a friendship with them because it will just hurt when they don't respect me.

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lotusauriel
07-15-2017, 12:07 PM
I am an INFJ. And seriously. If he can't respect your boundaries, lose him.

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Slim
07-15-2017, 02:25 PM
Take from a merman. Drop that shrimp to the bottom of the ocean. You made your boundaries known and he repeatedly ignored it. You done the right thing and you'll eventually find the right one.


I understand that, but one thing I didn't mention about turkeyfish was that before he noticed my fin he ignored me thought I was just another student in class and he was kind of sarcastic unless you need to ask a question.

I've observed a similar effect with other guys (most of them have mental issues) so they don't pick up social cues and my discomfort. Like the guy I called "the cringe" that I mentioned at the beginning of the thread, he would say weird sexual stuff in Lab. Another guy friend that I have would also make weird sexual comments about my mermaiding that made,me uncomfortable. But I end up attracting more attention from these types of guys when my friends or I share about all the fun stuff that I do including mermaiding. These aren't bad people they aren't merverts just weird. Something could be wrong with the way I'm communicating because they're not getting the message that I am not interested. How do you set boundaries with someone who doesn't understand boundaries? Is there stuff I can do to prevent these kinds of guys from trying to contact me? Some of them are sneaky. Are there certain things I should look for?

This might be helpful to mers that don't understand why this bothers me: I am an INTJ, Myers-Briggs personality type very rare for females to have. When I'm attracted to someone I'm looking for more of a "mind-mate" somebody who can keep up with me intellectually as well as shares similar interests, sense of humor, wit, and morals. Most of the time I don't start feeling attracted to someone until one of those clicks especially if they are smart. So when guys talk about me in a sexual way at all it makes me very uncomfortable and has the opposite effect of flirting and kills any sort of attraction if their was one. I can talk this out with the average person but some guys just don't get it.

I want to keep them far away before I develope a friendship with them because it will just hurt when they don't respect me.

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Mermaid Joie
07-15-2017, 02:52 PM
Take from a merman. Drop that shrimp to the bottom of the ocean. You made your boundaries known and he repeatedly ignored it. You done the right thing and you'll eventually find the right one.
I like that phrase drop that shrimp haha
Thanks Slim. Will do. I guess he just doesn't seem as bad cause I have had worse.

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Slim
07-15-2017, 03:13 PM
You're welcome :) I can relate as I been friends with far worse people than that but hey, they are in my past. Even with the rarity of your personality, you'll find that will fit the perfect one and it's going to happen when you or no one expects it.


I like that phrase drop that shrimp haha
Thanks Slim. Will do. I guess he just doesn't seem as bad cause I have had worse.

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Winged Mermaid
07-15-2017, 08:16 PM
I've dealt with a guy like Turkeyfish. Saw red flags coming a long ways off- but ignored them because I thought it wasn't a big deal, I felt bad for the guy cause they didn't really have other friends, and we were hanging out and having fun doing so. Same with him NEEDING to be right and not being able to agree to disagree, and getting all pissed off even about stupid stuff (even about stuff that I could factually prove he was wrong about). Then comes the wake up call, and you feel super shitty about it all.

My turkeyfish wasn't interested in me romantically, but other than that very similar situation. But the fact of the matter is that he was the shitty friend and ignored your very clear statements about not being interested. Very "nice guy" mentality :rolleyes: It's better to cut ties and move on. You don't owe him anything, even if he thinks he's entitled to a relationship for being "such a nice guy". You don't need people like that in your life. Tell him Bye Felipe!

Mermaid Wesley
07-24-2017, 02:29 PM
I totally know what you're talking about. Being a woman causes that sort of thing, and DEFINITELY costuming can attract those people too. I have had several "turkeyfishes" in my past (one of which I dated. Y I k e s.).
I went through a phase of hiding myself to avoid this, but then I got kinda pissed off! These random manipulators were keeping me from living life to the fullest! I got harsh with them, I cut them off, and I started doing what I wanted. Life got better when I put my wants over others' wants. And my needs over other people's comfort.

My advice? Be unapologetic. It's scary when you're not used to it, but take no shit. There's no excuse for anyone making you feel this way, so just... boy bye.



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Mermaid Joie
07-24-2017, 03:27 PM
I totally know what you're talking about. Being a woman causes that sort of thing, and DEFINITELY costuming can attract those people too. I have had several "turkeyfishes" in my past (one of which I dated. Y I k e s.).
I went through a phase of hiding myself to avoid this, but then I got kinda pissed off! These random manipulators were keeping me from living life to the fullest! I got harsh with them, I cut them off, and I started doing what I wanted. Life got better when I put my wants over others' wants. And my needs over other people's comfort.

My advice? Be unapologetic. It's scary when you're not used to it, but take no shit. There's no excuse for anyone making you feel this way, so just... boy bye.



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Well said! Mermaid Wesley

I firmly believe you should never have to apologize for who you are and what you value. I should never have to convince someone to accept me or love me for who I am.

I had a new thought today on this that kind of goes along with what you said. One of the first things he did to weasle his way in to my life was accuse me of being judgemental. I apologized for this and tried to prove him wrong by developing a close friendship with him. I can see now that I am not judgemental in that I don't pass judgement on others or treat them unkindly, but I am/was careful and selective about who I let into my heart even in friendships. I am the keeper of my soul and I put up boundaries to keep people like this guy who want to just trapse through selfishly with garbage out of it. Even though this guy and the other one were both selfish and manipulative in their own way I was the one that let them in. I let their words get to me. I chose to believe the lies and manipulation in exchange for feeling accepted. I backed down on my standards because I choose to believe the crap he said about me. I didn't (and still don't) want to make others feel uncomfortable or unworthy. But these feelings come from inside them and rather than dealing with them they choose to blame me.

You are right. I don't have anything to apologize for other than not sticking to my guns. I think that would have caused a lot less heart break for all involved.
Now I know.

My question now is is there a way I can be unapologetic without sounding like a... um... female dogfish?

I place a very high value on love and kindness. I have always struggled with being assertive. :(

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