Phoenixandnika
Posts: 748
Joined: 4/22/2005 From: Aberdeen Maryland Status: offline
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Assertiveness is being able to stand up for YOURSELF, voicing YOUR opinions and feelings and making sure your peers consider them. It is not the same as aggressiveness. You can be assertive and vocal without being forceful or rude. Instead, it is stating your opinion and or feelings. Assertion is a skill that is learned it is not naturally ingrained. It is a way of communicating and behaving with others. Being assertive makes ME feel confident and aware of MY feelings, MY views, and MYSELF. I also believe that being assertive allows others within a forum such as this the opportunity to read MY views, opinions, and feelings on various topics. I learned that often times in being assertive it is not what you say but how you say it that often makes people take offense. Examples: Scat play is sick. I think scat play is sick. Knife play is extremely erotic. I think knife play is extremely erotic. In the first example of both, the statements are general. While in the second statements I own my feelings and opinions. I do not believe that simply because I am assertive and make MY opinions and feelings known that I am obligated to justify them ANYONE. Aggression is expressing your feelings, needs, rights, and opinions without respect for other's feelings, needs, rights, and opinions. I don't mind being "PC" however I do mind when people expect me to be passive. I do take offense to the thought that if my opinions and feelings are not the same as the masses or YOURS that I should keep them to myself. In my opinion the point of these forums is to allow EVERYONE to be assertive in expressing themselves, their views, their opinions, their feelings on various issues or aspects of the alternative lifestyle(s) we are part of. So ask yourself this, when posting. Do I own my feelings and opinions in an assertive manner? Or am I expressing my opinions and feelings in an aggressive manner? Is my aim to win or try to force others to accept and perhaps even change their opinions and feelings to match mine or am I simply expressing and owning MY feelings and opinions? If you were simply expressing your feelings and opinions in an assertive manner, I would welcome a debate with you any day. If you’re being aggressive or simply not owning YOUR feelings and opinions I will probably simply not reply to you. Life is far to short and I refuse to get into a pissing contest in this virtual world or any world over MY right to MY feelings and opinions. After all they are just that MINE.
< Message edited by Phoenixandnika -- 10/7/2006 3:15:04 AM >
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"Life is neither a bed of roses nor a carpet of thorns, it's just what you make of it."
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