I mentioned Susan B. Anthony because my friend portrayed her at a museum, and I was reminded how hard women fought for rights and that I should at least speak up for myself.

Conspiracy theories scare me. Of all the psychosis I have experienced and witnessed, conspiracy theories are the most frightening for me. When I let them spiral in my own head, I find mean, evil THEYs everywhere I look or try not to look. When I am confronted with somebody else's conspiracy theories, it is frightening how quickly I can be cast as a mean, evil THEY. Majority of one, here. So sorry I enslaved entire continents before I was born. Can't help it. I a hyper-active girl. Busy, busy, busy.

Even when the conspiracy is real and a mean, evil THEY really is after me with malicious intent, I seldom interpret the conspiracy with functional accuracy, nor react effectively. My personal herstory contains many cases of going after mosquitoes with cannons. In that ol' 20-20 hindsight, I often see myself as Chicken Little, running around crying, "The sky is falling."

Don't know if it applies to your case, or not, ds. Just the personal experience that popped into my head.

Congrats on finding the courage to speak up. I am sure Susan B. is proud of you. In my own, strictly personal circle, men seem to have allot more fear of speaking up than women, especially here in the days of public profiling and internet posting, but. . . Susan's memorialized campaign was far more political than personal. Nature's articulation talents never were gender based. Nothing natural about political rights.

Continued support while you sort your own, unique case, ds. It is much easier to sort in open spaces in the light of day.

Good for you for speaking up!

I'm with Arfie on the con-theories. (Sorry, my nickname for them.) In my dad's family, there's so much potential to see X-Files-style grand conspiracy, and mostly it was just dumba** people doing dumba** things and then going along like those actions had no consequences. Which can seem like they're plotting (and in my dad's family, at least one aunt would) but mostly? Coincidence, confabulation...but rarely a conspiracy of more than one. (That aunt I mentioned.) I can gaslight myself into a tizzy pretty quickly, no help needed from outside, alas!

Glad you reported them!

it doesn't matter if he had a direct accomplice; the whole dance studio sanctioned the assault in a way. I do like to spin conspiracy theories, but my dream helped me understand the premeditation.

Glad you are getting it figured, ds. An accurate, personal inventory helps with the sorting.

For me, strictly personal, conspiracy theories are kinda like I've heard alcoholics describe the call of the bar toast: One is too many, a thousand is not enough.

Still. . . I miss the war games. Paint ball or laser tag, anyone? The THEYs are clearly marked and willing targets. Effective channeling with a minimum of collateral damage. Sometimes I even get the satisfaction of creative name-calling. On guard, you pretentious muckety muck. . . The Force is with me.

My personal herstory of going after mosquitoes with cannons has created incredible collateral damage. I just slaps 'em them skeeters days.

ds, I am also glad you "spoke up"....I am much older than you, but I too had to report sexual harrassment last year where I live. At the age I am it re-triggered/re-traumatized me from a past sexual assault (not rape). I did not think I would be dealing with this crap again...that is why I am on this site now. As they say "You just can't make this stuff up!!" I was angry, numb...I get it, and I felt alone about it until I came here where there is understanding. I came forward, reported it, even found a disability law firm that documented what happened to me, a second report also. I validate your reporting it dsf, I also understand the insensitive remarks even women can make. I got that too, it is so unfair,sad... but you did the right thing, I too hope you feel some closure. My Support to you with Healing Thoughts!

It is not that I believe that a whole dance studio was "out to get me" because they didn't like me. This dance instructor is one of their golden boys; very well thought of and also the DJ. I think I was seen as immoral, childish, and disrespectful to him and needed to be taught some kind of lesson in empathy. I did have regular dance partners and liked the parties, but I think the dance instructor did NOT want me there.