CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Then StormCloud CONGRATS
> you must have never ever been bullied. Or did not
> care if you were.....


A few kids *tried* to bully me when I was also a kid, but only ever once per bully. I beat the sh!t outta 'em and they never bothered me again. Grampa taught Momma, and Momma taught me: NEVER start a fight (if we did, *we'd* get a licking when we got home) BUT ~ if someone else starts a fight, FINISH it. So I always did. Any other potential bullies didn't bother to try, after seeing what had gone down. Ha!

But I haven't been as an adult, no. Not that I'm aware of, anyway... and doesn't one have to be consciously aware of it, for it to count? Well, I guess I've been snickered at for being fat... not *that* often, just a few times that I was aware of or noticed... and no, I *don't* care. What small-minded mean people think of me is of no consequence. They can just fester in their own putrid-ness. And *really*... just a one-off comment by some neanderthal doesn't merit the term "bullying". Bullying is something else entirely.

Sometimes I'd say something back, like, "Really? And here I thought I was starting to get too skinny." Which always kinda caught 'em off guard. Sometimes I'd laugh at their joke ~ and that kinda seemed to piss 'em off, for some reason. But the last time any of that happened was more than 15 years ago.

I've also been teased when I've said or did something totally stupid... but hey ~ *I* was the one who did something totally stupid! So again, don't care. In fact, I laugh along with the teasing at how stupid I was.

Referring to every slight as "bullying", "abusive", or an "attack" is just beyond ridiculous. Like (as I mentioned before) these guys who take a whiz in an alley and end up on a s-e-x offender registry. Totally cheapens the real thing.

OMG, now you're being insensitive to rape victims!

Just kidding!

When people have said mean things about my or other people's weight, I have said before, "People can always lose weight, but you can't lose a lousy personality!" Haha - so true!

Mystery shopping is similar to being in espionage or on a reconnaissance mission, in some ways. I won't get shot or put in prison (Yes, that is a pretty big difference), but I am secretly observing people. I am spying on them. I have to note a lot of information to report back. I have to agree never to talk about some shops at all to anyone in any way, shape, or form. I don't tell a lot of people that I mystery shop. I can just picture being on a shop and using an alias when a friend comes up, greets me by name and asks loudly if I am on a mystery shop. It's also hard not to talk about my day on a shop or be able to say I got a brand item free.

I know one mystery shopper in my area who put her day's work on her Facebook page, which in my opinion did not make her much of a MYSTERY shopper.

...walking away quietly from this thread...

Some random thoughts...

Bullies are cowards.

Overcoming bullying builds character.

If physically attacked and you beat the crap out of the bully you will be left alone.

If verbally abused and you intellectually attack and defeat the bully, you will be left alone.

Nothing I have seen on this forum constitutes bullying.

Mystery shopping in no way can be compared to the military, military manuevers or special forces.

I've never been in the military but have lived nearly all of my life with a Viet Nam vet and I've spent months and months doing research of that 'war'.

As for the original posting, am I the only one who didn't understand her point?

LIJake Wrote:
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> Some random thoughts...
>
you will be left alone.
>
you will be left alone.
>
> Nothing I have seen on this forum constitutes
> bullying.


yes bc no one ever leaves anything alone on this forum.

The only comparison to mystery shopping and going into a "combat zone" is taking a shop in an intercity neighborhood in a particular area where two municipalities had their police force cut to a level where they can not respond to every call because of budget cuts. The two towns get assistance from the county and the state to patrol the streets. You can not exaggerate the reality.

During a period when Iraq was experiencing heavy casualties gangs were shooting each other. Innocent people also got caught in the crossfire. The two towns had a higher casualty rate one week than Iraq did. You can see billboards that give the "public service message" "STOP THE VIOLENCE"!

The people who live in this area give the streets to the criminals and stay indoors at night except for a few you read about or see on TV. Still bullets are shot into buildings day and night. These are not news reports they are common occurrences in that area. You do not see all the occurrences on TV or in the newspapers.

I worked in that area and was trained to handle the reality. We did not go into that area day or night without a partner. In the day time when I go into that section on assignments I have been asked many many times if I was buying or selling (drugs). I am just going for a hamburger. I was asked for "change" and "ladies" offered their bodies at different fast food locations. You have to know how to decline the offers without offending. It only takes a few minutes and I am out of there. The self serve items like straws and drinks are behind the counter. The restrooms are locked and you are "buzzed in".

Why do I go there? I know what I am doing. I know how to go. I like an adventure every once in a while. Most important it makes me thankful that I am fortunate enough that I do not have to live there. I can appreciate what I got and but for circumstances I could be there instead of where I am at. You must dress the part and use a believable vehicle. I know how to blend in when I get there. There is a risk. I can still play the role.

Again Newbies and veteran shoppers I give the "public service message". "If you do not know the area and you do a "drive by" keep on going if you are over your head and you do not feel comfortable. It is better than losing your head or winding up dead.

Hip Deep - There is a big difference between Iraq and the intercity. If you are in the military and sent to Iraq either you go or you go awol. It is your choice to go into an intercity area as a mystery shopper. If you elect to go there because you are thrill seeking and like an adventure, have fun.

meaggiej - I agree - what is the expression about beating a dead horse? There are a lot of dead horses on these posts.

If you were a part of the military thank you for your service.

Piled Hip Deep, PHD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The only comparison to mystery shopping and going
> into a "combat zone" is taking a shop in an
> intercity neighborhood in a particular area where
> two municipalities had their police force cut to a
> level where they can not respond to every call
> because of budget cuts. The two towns get
> assistance from the county and the state to patrol
> the streets. You can not exaggerate the reality.
>
> During a period when Iraq was experiencing heavy
> casualties gangs were shooting each other.
> Innocent people also got caught in the crossfire.
> The two towns had a higher casualty rate one week
> than Iraq did. You can see billboards that give
> the "public service message" "STOP THE VIOLENCE"!
>
> The people who live in this area give the streets
> to the criminals and stay indoors at night except
> for a few you read about or see on TV. Still
> bullets are shot into buildings day and night.
> These are not news reports they are common
> occurrences in that area. You do not see all the
> occurrences on TV or in the newspapers.
>
> I worked in that area and was trained to handle
> the reality. We did not go into that area day or
> night without a partner. In the day time when I go
> into that section on assignments I have been asked
> many many times if I was buying or selling
> (drugs). I am just going for a hamburger. I was
> asked for "change" and "ladies" offered their
> bodies at different fast food locations. You have
> to know how to decline the offers without
> offending. It only takes a few minutes and I am
> out of there. The self serve items like straws and
> drinks are behind the counter. The restrooms are
> locked and you are "buzzed in".
>
> Why do I go there? I know what I am doing. I know
> how to go. I like an adventure every once in a
> while. Most important it makes me thankful that I
> am fortunate enough that I do not have to live
> there. I can appreciate what I got and but for
> circumstances I could be there instead of where I
> am at. You must dress the part and use a
> believable vehicle. I know how to blend in when I
> get there. There is a risk. I can still play the
> role.
>
> Again Newbies and veteran shoppers I give the
> "public service message". "If you do not know the
> area and you do a "drive by" keep on going if you
> are over your head and you do not feel
> comfortable. It is better than losing your head or
> winding up dead.