Have any of you ever encountered fellow mers who didn't WANT to be in your mer-pod?

[Mermaid Syrena]

Just wondering-- have any of you ever encountered fellow mers who gave clear indications that they didn't WANT to be in your mer-pod...or, actually, made it clear that they didn't want to have communication with you at all? All of ye here are lovely, sociable folk-- but I'm wondering if any of you are in the same predicament as me: having met with a hostile mer. I'm thinking she's possibly being so hostile and uncommunicative because she feels threatened. Us mers sometimes DO get the feeling of "hey, I did it first", which is understandable... but
1) I did it first, (although that is of little consequence) and
2) I reached out in good friendship and faith, which is why I'm a little disorientated by the response.
3) Mers should stick together!

Would love to hear about your experiences!

[Mermaid Varshana]

Understand: some people are just a wee bit (or a lot bit) nuts. You don't even have a clue why or what you should do because crazy is the reason and nothing can be done. Sorry you went through that :( *tailhugs*

[Mermaid Veruliya]

I had a best friend in 9th grade, she was in 10th and just moved to our town. She lived at a house with a pool so obviously I brought my tattered fabric tails to swim in with her. We did it alllll the time. When my tail became useless and we were tying the together with bows and hair ties, we just started using my flippers, and with talks of making nice neoprene tails together. We talked all about what patterns we wanted and techniques and research. Then her family up and moves very randomly, and she took my flippers. When I tried several occasions to get them back, she just ignored. No where around here sells flippers and I didn't have a card to order. So I never made another tail. A few weeks later I found out she got a job as a mermaid in a restaurant. Then she got a job at Ripleys aquarium. I was so pissed, she knew I was the one who started her on mermaids and she completely dropped ties with me. She knew that was my dream.

But now here we are, I've got a card, car, money from working, going to college, ect and she's dropped out of highschool, going nowhere, smoking weed and doing god knows what else to ruin her body. Still at Ripleys though, it kills me honestly. I just wish she would've never back stabbed me like that.

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

I haven't encountered anyone quite so vicious, but I have met a young mermaid whom I told about the mernetwork and yet haven't seen any sign of her here.

[Mary Marine]

Understand: some people are just a wee bit (or a lot bit) nuts.

Does anyone else find it kind of ironic that a bunch of mermaids are calling other people nuts? I mean, I'm not disagreeing, some people are as crazy as a crayfish, but when I tell people I'm getting a mermaid tail they look at me like I have lobsters coming out off my ears.

[Mermaid Varshana]

I don't think it's ironic at all. What we're doing is whimsy. I see a therapist for depression and autism. She thinks this is cool, not crazy. There are people out there who really do have malicious, overreactive, unreasonable antisocial tendencies that are extremely hurtful and make it very difficult to have positive interactions with them.

[Mermaid Syrena]

Varshana- thanks! I guess I have to MER UP and stop being so idealistic. It's nice to know that people here are sociable and together-minded, though. I guess I just thought that anyone who had mer dreams of any sort would definitely be a kindred spirit. Guess that's not the case! *tail hugs back* Out of interest- what was the inspiration behind changing your name? :)

Keri- I'm so sorry to hear that! That majorly, majorly blows. I can imagine how you'd feel- that really is a tail-slap in the face. Still, you know, good things WILL come to you. It's sad that sometimes we learn that giving and sharing don't earn ideal outcomes for us. But yeah, like you said- see, you're doing well in comparison! Also, not to judge- but with the lifestyle you say she's living, it doesn't sound like she really IS very mer-spirited. Take comfort in that.

Mary Marine- ... A bunch of mermaids are calling us mermaids nuts? Where does this come from?

Joy&Raptors- You never know, hon! Maybe she's just a-lurkin'! :)

[Mermaid Syrena]

Update: I'd sent her a THIRD message (first 2 were ignored, and she accepted my friend request on FB and then promptly Unfriended me eight minutes later, which was...weird), saying a friendly "Heya, just want you to know that I'm friendly, and don't bite! Just thought we two could form a mer-pod, or something. Mer-sisters, y'know!"

to which she replied...
"hi Syrena! i'll let you know if i'm interested! thanks for the contact"

Sounds harmless enough, but in this context I'd say it was borderline passo-aggresso. It makes it sound like I just offered her a JOB which she's reluctant to take. Which I didn't. I basically just said "Hey, let's be mer-friends!" and she went "I'll thiiink about it and let you know if I'm interested. Thanks for the contact!"

whut

[Mermaid Veruliya]

I'd drop that girl like a fish on a hook, she seems uninterested and was blatantly stalking you for those 8 mins!

[aWittleNoob]

Just wondering-- have any of you ever encountered fellow mers who gave clear indications that they didn't WANT to be in your mer-pod...or, actually, made it clear that they didn't want to have communication with you at all? All of ye here are lovely, sociable folk-- but I'm wondering if any of you are in the same predicament as me: having met with a hostile mer. I'm thinking she's possibly being so hostile and uncommunicative because she feels threatened. Us mers sometimes DO get the feeling of "hey, I did it first", which is understandable... but
1) I did it first, (although that is of little consequence) and
2) I reached out in good friendship and faith, which is why I'm a little disorientated by the response.
3) Mers should stick together!

Would love to hear about your experiences!

Mertailing is kinda like surfing..... There will be people who been on the beach longer, who surf better or just as good as you. There will also be people with egos. You can't clash heads... Your surfers so your bros... but in this case I guess you part of a pod... (kinda like being part of a herd, haha) So you can either co-exist and talk it out or fight over the surfboard. The surfboard isn't big enough for two egos, its barely big enough for one. So no one really wants to crash.... You might wanna talk it out with her directly before posting on a forum, or a site which she obviously might be apart of.. She might be nasty, but you did just post a forum about her.... She might be even a nastier person and actually be happy about you doing this, but hey. She can be rotten to a core if Ursula if she wants. No skin off your back. Got a two feet, two arms. Your still breathing and living. So everything is still good. Sorry for laying on the drama if I did do that.

[aWittleNoob]

as Ursula*. Also. You shouldn't worry about another gal in a tail. Maybe she feels abit threaten, or envious/jealous of you or maybe shes upset. She might also kinda feel like your taking attention from her or something. She just a kinda territorial or sensitive person. Maybe she has a disorder, or maybe she is just one of those people who get rubbed the wrong way by other people all the time. Try to be as nice as possible when shes there and your with your pod. Just don't care about them. Kill them with kindness, and you get more flies with hunny then you do with sugar, but the best thing right now is just to leave her alone and let her have her space. she kina sounds like the more reserved, my space is my space and your space is your space. Try not to match a face or personality on a person before getting to know them. If she doesn't want to be your friend on facebook its okay. there are more.... fish- friends... in the sea? xP

[Mermaid Syrena]

Keri- It's not half as bad as what you went through, though. *hugs* But look at you, you beaut! You're up on your fins and doing just swell!

AWittleNoob- Very Zenned out advice, haha. The thing is, I DID try to talk to her, to let her know that I'm friendly and just want to offer a listening mer-ear if she needs it. Yes, a big part of me feels her response was unwarranted. However, there's a part of me that still hopes and tries to believe that she's a nice person. I mean, I'm sure we all have our reasons- and I'd REALLY like to believe that she's a positive mer-force who maybe is just struggling with certain notions of...things.
With regards to posting about this- as much as I know anyone can search up anything on the web, I choose to believe that Mernetwork is a safe environment where mers can share their troubles, if they need to. But I completely see your point. Thanks for offering your words :) And nice surf references. ;)

[Mermaid Syrena]

AWittleNoob- I would never want to take attention from her. See, the thing is- once she gets her tail, that'd make her the 2nd mermaid where I stay. The second mermaid! Population: 2! My country has no pod right now. Sooo... I thought it'd be awesome if we could band together and get the mermaid movement started where I stay, and form our own two-person mer support group.
But...perhaps I shouldn't be imposing these grand ideas on other people. Maybe some people just want to mer by themselves, and don't want to be part of a community. I understood it for Clint Eastwood, I guess I might try to understand it for her. *sigh* I had good intentions, is all, and so getting snubbed like that was unexpected.

[Mermaid Veruliya]

As I'm sure you are, twice a tall on your fins babe! My motto is just radiate the positivity, positive vibes keep your world spinning. Good luck <3 !

[Mermaid Syrena]

Keri- You know it! Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming ;)

[Mermaid Varshana]

Out of interest- what was the inspiration behind changing your name? :)

I decided on my mermaid name :) I LOVE that tradition in this community. My tail is neon and psychedelic. Hinduism is a very psychedelic religion that was borne of visions of holy men who consumed soma and reported back what they saw. Varshana is the birthplace of Radha, one of my favorite people in the lore, who was one of Lord Krishna's consorts.

[Mermaid Syrena]

Yes, I thought it sounded Indian-inspired, but I didn't want to make assumptions, so I thought I'd ask! It's beautiful, and I love the story behind it. From what I've seen of your posts here, the edginess of the name Varshana (if that makes any sense at all, lol) also suits you a great deal.

[Mermaid Veruliya]

I knew it had some Hindu connection, I love learning about Hinduism as it has many connections to ancient Buddhism :)

[aWittleNoob]

@Syrena. I know how you feel starting up something, and the dragged along feeling. xD! Also! Your tail is so pretty ^^!

[SeaGlass Siren]

I had a best friend in 9th grade, she was in 10th and just moved to our town. She lived at a house with a pool so obviously I brought my tattered fabric tails to swim in with her. We did it alllll the time. When my tail became useless and we were tying the together with bows and hair ties, we just started using my flippers, and with talks of making nice neoprene tails together. We talked all about what patterns we wanted and techniques and research. Then her family up and moves very randomly, and she took my flippers. When I tried several occasions to get them back, she just ignored. No where around here sells flippers and I didn't have a card to order. So I never made another tail. A few weeks later I found out she got a job as a mermaid in a restaurant. Then she got a job at Ripleys aquarium. I was so pissed, she knew I was the one who started her on mermaids and she completely dropped ties with me. She knew that was my dream.

But now here we are, I've got a card, car, money from working, going to college, ect and she's dropped out of highschool, going nowhere, smoking weed and doing god knows what else to ruin her body. Still at Ripleys though, it kills me honestly. I just wish she would've never back stabbed me like that.
Yiu know what that is called? Karma!

You treat people nicely but people bite you in the ass and yet you try to hold your head above the water, and now look. Her reward for biting you is her.. Well... Weed, and other shit that goes into her body. And you've made it. You've got a car, card, money, college education...

[Mermaid Veruliya]

All that really matters to me is that I am taking care of myself. And a little bit of rubbing it in if she ever sees...