How have you tried to subvert the attempts of others to control you?

Of course, too many to list. My parents taught me to question authority, especially within any school system. In many ways, this lesson turned on them because I questioned their authority, naturally. I have done many legal and illegal rebellions, so to speak and yes, generally, I get away with it, but that’s not the point. In some ways, I can play the ‘straight nice quiet-looking girl’ and that allows me to subvert situations in ways people don’t expect. I queer every space I’m in, they say.

I disobeyed my mom a lot. And some people in the military, because they want you to listen to them, even if they have no idea what they’re talking about. I usually got away with it lol.

I did go against my parents a few times, but not to spite them or rebel, just to pursue what I wanted to do at the time. I lied to do what I wanted to do. It was on very rare occasion.

For the most part I don’t feel I need to subvert attempts to control me, because I don’t feel like many people are trying to control me.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir I try to remind parents that a very obedient easy child, especially female children, need to be worried about, because they might wind up being submissive and obedient to their own demise. Not necessarily literally death, but death of their spirit and self worth. When teenagers stand up to their parents they are practicing on safe people for the challenges they will have against others. Adolescent angst within reason should be seen as a positive thing I think.

@JLeslie And I agree. I always tell my children (and my students) ’ argue with me but do it well..if your point is well-argued, you might get more out of it than just what you wanted in the first place.’

I’ve always been a free spirited type, and yes, I was involved in a very controlling marriage for many years, until I woke up. lol

I still remained very independent in my thinking but, my physical freedom was comprimised in a dysfunctional relationship.

I am happy to report that I have completely reclaimed my ‘true self’ over the past 9 years and will never allow her to be subverted ever again. :-D

By beating them, devouring their remains, and salting their fields so nothing will ever grow again, obviously.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir I had assumed you would, I’m thinking your mom would too.

I had this English teacher senior year of high school who was super rigid in her approach to teaching English. Basically, we were always wrong unless we came up with the exact subjective answer that she had come up with. For our final paper, she finally decided to loosen the reins and let us pick our topics. I chose teenage sexuality. I carefully picked the most cringe-worthy statistics and essays. I never found out my grade on it, but I hope she squirmed when she read it. :)

@Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard: I assume that, before the devouring, you see them driven before you and you hear the lamentations of the women?

@JLeslie Nah, she thinks that kind of talk (peer to peer, as if we’re all equals) is American psychobabble

Haha :).

I was a sneaky kid. I couldn’t lie for shite if asked something face to face but I was a planner, a saver and stealthy. I kept my mouth shut about what I was up to and paid lip service to whatever nagging or complaints I got. When the time was opportune, I got the hell out of my parents’ home and never had to go back.

Nowadays my mother lives with my fiancee and I, if only temporarily. My mother can now laugh and some of the things she’s discovered about me, about how much I’m willing to lay low and endure in order to get a bigger return for myself.

@KatawaGrey yes, except their women celebrate.

For the most part I stick to what people want me to do.

By controlling them by letting them know I don’t play silly mind games….. People know to leave me to it……

The last one was when I took my shitty old car on a road trip. Everyone was telling me the car was on its last legs, wouldn’t make it, and I shouldn’t go. My answer was basically, “fuck you guys, I’m going anyway.” I blithely drove it all up and down the east coast and then the car blew a gasket in the middle of some cornfield in Delaware. It wasn’t one of my shining moments.

The only person who really tried to control me was my MIL. I just looked at her and said, “Um, no.”

Drove her crazy.

I thwarted authority in school many times. My dad was a hippy in his day, and many of the ideologies relating to that stayed with him. He’d always tell me about it, about evil corporations, how much money sucks, people trying to use you and brainwash you to fit the system and all. He was always like, fuck people, you gotta be your own damn self little missy. And don’t hurt people, unless they’re trying to kill you.
He’s a good reason as to why I see certain things the way I do. However, the main reason why I was ’‘able’’ to thwart’’ authority in school wasn’t because of him or any other deep seated reasons; it’s because I just didn’t give a fuck. XD

@Symbeline I knew people who had parents like that. Some of them became welfare bums.

Well, not me. :)

You SHOULD be in school, though. Education is important. I’m not saying that because I’m a conforming asshole. Education IS important.

Been studying for a few years now. Honestly I’m getting sick of it, but nobody needs to tell me it’s important, my dad also made that clear to me. And even if he hadn’t, I would have figured it out soon enough.

I’m doing my MA now, going for a phD at some point, too. If you want to talk to someone biased about education, it’s me.

I snuck out at night. All the time. My mother was a single mom and slept like the dead. It didn’t really matter, though… she was extremely lax in the discipline department, and pretty much let me do whatever the hell I wanted anyway.

Her way of trying to control me had to do with guilting me in to doing whatever she wanted me to do. Worked for a long time, too. I no longer let her influence me in any way.

Yeah, mine guilts me too. It’s simply a mom thing to do!