Ever let someone think they've taken advantage of you

[Cheyenne]

when they haven't?

Some of us are "givers" by nature. It is the giving that brings us joy. How you receive the gift is only a small part of the equation.

 

[Ice Cold]

My best friend always thinks she is taking adavantage of me, becuase I am always doing tings for her. But making her day a little brighter and seeing her smile is worth it every time.

 

[morninggirl5]

I don't think i've ever let anyone think they were taking advantage of me. I've let several people take advantage of me, they knew it, i knew it, and at that point in my life, it made us all happy.


Now, i'm making myself happy first. The people that used to have that consideration aren't too pleased, but i'm learning to live for me. It's a wonderful feeling.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Only long enough to spring the trap. I am, unfortunately, somewhat bitchy.

 

[Sillyman]

Only when I'm actually screwing them over.

 

[Cheyenne]

Only long enough to spring the trap. I am, unfortunately, somewhat bitchy.

hehe... I have to admit I've done that, too.

But I was talking more about times when someone thought they were taking advantage of you being generous and nice.

Hmmmmm... maybe that's too complicated of a concept to get across in a thread. Oh, well. I'll kick it up for the day shift to see what happens.

 

[SilverVeil]

Sometimes.

I draw the line in my own head as to when doing something for someone becomes being taken advantage of, and put a stop to it when that line is crossed.

But, sometimes I let things slide to avoid messy situations. If it rocks their little world to think they took advantage of me, then let them live with their little delusion.

 

[SINthysist]

I do it all the time.

I buy lake lots at Sherrifs auction and sell them to city folks who don't understand the real price of rural real estate...

I dress like a rube, act a little slow (not a stretch), name a high price and let them "outsmart" me to a lower price and a healthy profit...

The second greatest rural scam is antiques...

 

[Cheyenne]

If it rocks their little world to think they took advantage of me, then let them live with their little delusion.

Yes! Now that's what I was trying to say. Thank you! As long as it isn't any skin off my nose, I will let it alone.

 

[Cheyenne]

I do it all the time.

I buy lake lots at Sherrifs auction and sell them to city folks who don't understand the real price of rural real estate...

I dress like a rube, act a little slow (not a stretch), name a high price and let them "outsmart" me to a lower price and a healthy profit...

The second greatest rural scam is antiques...

I've never believed you to be slow- your act doesn't workwith everyone. Warped, yes. Slow? Nope!

If you think antiques are a rural scam, try garage sale items sold on eBay for huge profits! I don't do this, but know a few who do.

 

[SINthysist]

Oh yeah! My spouse has bought kids clothes through college 'cause it's $.25 per item.

Half of my storage shed...

GONE!

 

[SweetCherry]

I've been told before that I'm getting taken advantage of, and sometimes I am. I usually give willingly of myself. I open my door and my life to my friends. it's impossible for my true friends to take advantage of anything. A true friend sees each gift as that--a gift. If I offer my friends anything, they know it's genuine, with no expectations or reciprocations needed.

 

[intrigued]

when they haven't?

Some of us are "givers" by nature. It is the giving that brings us joy. How you receive the gift is only a small part of the equation.

This is one I have struggled with all my life with my family. They have bled me dry because I am a giver, yet with them, they expected everything under the sun from me and it was easier to just go along and not make waves. I stayed stressed to the point that I couldn't function without being in physical pain, ran in circles, worked my bottom off giving and giving, and still met with all that was wrong with me. I no longer deal with this.

With others, I give without thought or consequence, I love people and I love to give.

When someone is taking advantage of me, or making demands on me, I will squirm a bit at first and just try to deal with it, but if they don't stop, yes, I will let them know, because by then, I'm angry. I don't even hurt over it anymore as I always did in the past, I am tired of blaming myself for other peoples behavior. Further, I am tired of people expecting everything and giving little.
And the worst is people that call you telling you what they expect and need you to do...OMG. I am too sorry, not this lady, if I am not compelled to do it on my on, you can just forget it, it isn't happening. I finally learned to look at it like this...(and this is just for those obnoxious busy body drainers)...they do not pay my bills, they do not clean my house, or fix my broken dishwasher, or call me and say "I was thinking of you and just wanted you to know", and they do not hold me when I go to sleep at night. What right do they have to make demands and tell me how to live and what to do?

Uh, oh...I better stop now, I am starting to work myself up.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

when they haven't?

Some of us are "givers" by nature. It is the giving that brings us joy. How you receive the gift is only a small part of the equation.

I have, but not in the sense you are thinking. Because I am fairly secure in who I am, I am not afraid to ask questions, to act like I don't know something just to see what someone will say, basically to be somewhat passive, instead of the typical male who says "yeah, I knew that" every 5 seconds while someone is explaining something to him that he doesn't have a clue about.

As such, people often think they can take advantage of me - in the bad sense, and that they have succeeded - when in actuality they either haven't or I didn't care.

Other people, like my ex-wife, used to take advantage of me all the time - every chance she got, because she knew I was a soft touch. Eventually I saw that all she wanted was my money - she would only call me when she needed money, be nice right up to the micro-second she got a commitment from me that I would "loan" (read give) it to her, then be a bitch thereafter. I put up with it even after I didn't have to (after my daughter no longer lived with her), but eventually I put my foot down. Now she borrows money from my daughter.

As for helping people and letting them think they are taking advantage of me - no, I don't want to have them feel guilty, or feel like they can take advantage of me. At a certain point it becomes apparent whether they are trying to take advantage of me or just asking for the occasional helpful hand which I am glad to do.

 

[penguindance]