Melissa, hi there. You write "I don't have any friends here anymore. I am pretty much alone in this area." First of all, I know how that feels. I, too, am a quiet, introverted person. Bullies sense my over-sensitivity and push me out of the group. (I really think bullies enjoy hurting me; they like the sense of power bullying brings.) For years I have thought there must be something wrong with me otherwise bullies wouldn't be mean to me.

But here's the thing. There's nothing wrong with you or me. And we are not alone. We have this online support group. We have each other.

It is my belief that through this support we will, in time, feel better about ourselves. And our lives will improve.

Until then I'm just going to fake it and hold my head up high, not letting the bullies know how much they are hurting me.

Hi Melissa
I truly believe that the world has lost its manners. I find that ppl are incredibly rude--I try hard not to become hardened and a bully but it can be challenging.
Try reading the book "QUIET" which validates that we are becoming a louder, more extroverted nation in which the most aggressive rise to the top ignoring the more sensitive and introverted.
However, if it weren't for people like you and I we'd be missing out on a big chunk of society. Try letting people know that you are sensitive and quiety but that doesn't mean that you don't have feelings or are insignificant.
I confronted someone recently who was talking about me, as you say, two feet away, She retracted, lied, blushed etc...and I hope that that will curtail her catty remarks next time.
should not be acceptable. You will find friends in the right places and I'll bet you're a diamond in the rough

Hi
I am new to this site.
I resonate with what is being said here. My experience of bullying started in my own family where I suffered all kinds of abuse. The few friends I made along the way all seemed to turn on me sooner or later. My best friend at school went off with my first boyfriend. As a family, we moved around a lot so I couldn't put any roots down anywhere. I witnessed domestic violence when growing up at home and found myself in violent relationships as an adult. In the workplace I attracted bullies. I was bullied until I left. It seems all my life I have been bullied. This has left me so alone. I am so glad I found this online support group. For me, this seems to be the way forward in making friends who are supportive.
My experience is that bullies DO sense our sensitivity but sensitivity is not weakness. Bullies seem to think and act in black or white, either or. They seem unable to empathise with anything other than their 'own kind'. For me, I am no match for these people who chew you up and spit you out so I simply move away from them when they show themselves in their true light.
I am going to focus on developing loving, caring, nurturing relationships in the safety of online forums and groups like this.
Thank you for your time.

Much of what you and the others have said resonates deeply with me. We live in an age of entitlement. The bad people feel entitled to be mean to others and the good people feel entitled to look the other way.

I think insecurity is at the heart of evil. Sure, we are all insecure about something at some point in life but it's how we handle it. Some opt to be neutral or withdraw while others put people down in order to feel better about themselves. It creates a horrible cycle where victims of bullying sometimes become bullies themselves, and so it gets worse.

I wish there was some simple answer to stop the bullying but I'm afraid it requires a community effort and I share the belief that the world is becoming a place where people are more concerned with taking care of number one. Humanity is going down the toilet because we rely on each other yet so many of us just worry about ourselves.

Regarding the crap about how others believe that people like us actually waste time on thinking we're better than anyone, I've been accused of that too. It's ridiculous because no one who is secure with themselves thinks that way. But after they say that I look at them a lot closer and you know what? It turns out I am better than them because I don't sit around making negative assumptions of someone I really don't know and I don't gossip about others (well within earshot of them) in order to feel less insecure. In fact, I would say people who are secure with who they are don't waste any time thinking about or doing such silly things. So in the end, we are better than them and they helped prove that fact. Think that, know that - you are better than them! Do everything you can to stay that way and prove it to yourself and others through acts of kindness to those who deserve it whether they be friends or strangers. Most importantly, be kind to yourself.

The gift of being a victim is our heightened sense of empathy. People accuse us of being too sensitive. I just thank the stars and take pride in the fact that I have never been accused of being too insensitive.

Thx everyone for the responses, experiences and encouragement. It is true that I am not alone. I am not the only person these ppl victimize and I even saw it w my own eyes. This girl walked in the classroom to straighten out some stuff and these other girls in my class who like to single me out or make me feel like I'm singled out. She was not the most attractive person but hey we all have flaws. I mean I don't consider myself ugly but I don't think I'm the most beautiful person either. The felt the need to call her "scary" and "monstrous" and they were laughing at her. It was so rude and I realized the problem is not w me at all. It is them. It easy to forget when they point the finger at u so much but I saw right there for myself. Missymess, for me I usually keep my mouth shut b/c I know myself. I know how mean I could really b if I just let go, opened my mouth and talked to these ppl the way that they deserve. The times that I have they shut up for a good while before they started in again. The main thing for me is that I am tired of feeling like I'm going to war every single time I step out the door. It shouldn't b like that. And there is a difference u know bt when ppl r just saying something in passing about someone and when they r targeting someone specifically.

You have a lot of courage to post this - nobody ever talks about disturbed behavior and community shunning and aggression.

I moved to a small town 3 years ago. What goes on here, is not believable. I am not believed. The first year, someone working on my property told me, "They ran a woman out of a neighborhood!" That's the reason nobody snaps all over them - they target women.

It's emotional rape, it probably has a major role in the suicide epidemic in this country, but therapists usually lie/pretend that it doesn't exist. ...If I could go back, there's a handful of adults that I really wish I had punched in the face, including the 6 ft tall man at the gas station just before dark, tonight, and a bimbette in the W Mart in the next state, 25 min away, a few days after my father died, the first year I was here. I wouldn't know either of them if I saw them. But, they know who I am. Everyone knows who I am.

Please take care of yourself.

Pinterest fan, thx for acknowledging that something is going on here other than just ppl making comments. I knew I wasn't going crazy and I know I'm not the only person this has happened to. They like to tell themselves that they all know me but no if someone has not spent a significant amount of time w me then they do not know me. That is crazy that they actually ran a woman out of the neighborhood. This would make an interesting study for psychology or sociology or well both really. Another thing it will b a cold day in hell before anything these ppl say or do is ever worth enough for me to even consider taking my own life.

One of the best books in the last decade is "Quiet" which discusses how introverted behave and how successful they are or can be doing things their way.

Bobby and Mamie, I finally bought that book "Quiet" It seems pretty good so far.

I think I should read that book.

I tell you where I'd like to live... in a community full of nothing but people who have been bullied at some point. Full of introverted people. Sounds like an odd thing to say, but somebody said in this very thread that we carry an empathy with us that makes us more considerate and less in need of forcing our point on others, because we care about how ugly it feels when others ram their thoughts onto us (usually bad thoughts)

When I'm really rich I'm going to buy an Island and invite peaceful and considerate people there to live. Maybe in a community like that, we might feel more the desire to interact, but until then I'll keep myself to myself (and this forum of course!)

It really is sad that just because a person does not want to sit around and gossip talking a bunch of negative stuff that happens in life end up being bullied. That is what I am getting from this thread and what I have experienced. I read books listen to music explore culture and the arts usually alone. At work because I would not join into all the ugliness I became a target and had to change shifts because of it. What I have learned is when they lie the truth always comes out. It may take a long time and a painful experience for the victim but it does turn around. I dont stand by and just get bullied I make demands to work in a safe harassment free environment. It makes me more disliked by more people but if the bulling continues and no one takes a stand it will continue to get worst. I am luck my therapist admits I am being bullied and it is not paranoia when people are out to get you. Hang tough Quite people can make a loud noise with honest effort. Im going to get that book it sounds interesting.

lol I like your plan cardmaker