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Siobhan Jess's avatar

Difficult (but not abusive) people do ultimately teach you and build your character. It's a great deal of emotional effort to deal with them in the moment, or to recognise this strength-building until long afterward. The schoolfriends who took advantage of my good nature; the line manager who was a legitimate bully; the flatmates who constantly had falling-outs and tried to recruit me to their 'side'; and like you Stephen, I've been involved in political campaigns and the behaviour and online cruelty of opponents and randoms can know no bounds. Each of these was an experience I've now accepted and grown from, and I hope same for everyone reading.

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Stephen Kent's avatar

i try not to promote like...."they make you stronger" cause they can truly wear you down into nothing. More so, an acceptance of them as a naturally occurring event. Only so many people can be good. So if you come across someone awful, you knew they existed, they have to exist, and you gotta make the best of it. That may mean getting as much distance as possible.

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Siobhan Jess's avatar

I absolutely agree. Abusive people are in a different category. And that line manager I described probably falls under that category, as opposed to 'difficult'.

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Cody Murphy's avatar

As the younger brother in my family. This one hit home.

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Siobhan Jess's avatar

You younger siblings are the worst. :D

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Stephen Kent's avatar

SUCH CHALLENGING PEOPLE lol

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