Originally Posted by
Bostondevil
I don't know that I want to give them the satisfaction of thinking that they got to me. Also, the language isn't exactly harassing. It's all couched in a "who me" veneer probably designed to give themselves some cover.
I mean - did they get to me? I'm trying to decide. I think this person is trying to shut me up. I think this person is male. So, sadly, with this type of male, I actually do become, privately and to myself, exactly what he has accused me of, dismissive.
I will say this publicly with the caveat that present company is excepted, but I have had to deal with men who cannot keep up with me intellectually all my life. I will treat them with respect until they start pulling the nonsense that some of them do when they also realize that they cannot keep up with me intellectually and their reaction is to try to bring me down. After that, I will endeavor, outwardly, to continue to treat them with respect, but inwardly, I ain't got time for them or their opinions which I dismiss out of hand.
It has taken me most of my life to give up feeling guilty about the fact that there are men who cannot keep up with me intellectually. I did not marry one of those. None of my sons are in that category either. Thank goodness.