Maybe a lot of people on here have never let themselves BE the victim. Maybe we've spent so much time crucifying ourselves it feels nice to have someone say, you're not that screwed up little druggie asshole they told you you were. You're not a horrible person that deserves to be treated like a dog, or worse. How do you know nobody has a life at ALL and is trying to play the victim, FOR LIFE? I don't think things are really that black and white.
I do understand one thing you may be trying to get at. Why sit around all day feeling bad and not doing anything about it, right? I agree, but I think part of the process of doing something about it is acknowleging that we were wronged...and that they were wrong about us. I doubt that anyone who truly believes that they aren't that screwed up little shit that we were told is going to want to feel bad, is going to want to sit around and be sad. What would they have to feel sad about?
Also, how will we be able to protect ourselves, if we don't respect ourselves and our needs, if we don't realize what kind of treatment is acceptable and what isn't. If it doesn't matter what other people do to us, only how we react, why not just let people treat us however they want. It's only how we react, right? Never blaming others will not only NOT be freeing, it will keep us in chains. The chains of not allowing yourself to be as you truly are, to not have the feelings you have and to not respect yourself as you are. Of course we can't necessarily control other people, but we can see them for what they are and take action accordingly. [ This Message was edited by: JMA on 2005-04-08 17:11 ]