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Unfortunately, yeah. The more you let people walk over you the more comfortable they get doing it. Being blunt is a good way to stop that kind of behavior, when someone is rude asking direct questions like “why are you saying that about them?” makes people uncomfortable and will get them to stop dragging you into drama. Especially in today’s American climate people feel emboldened to attack people they see as “weak” so you need to not appear “weak” and (this is the much more difficult part) stand up for everyone else who the bullies are targeting
No shit, there’s a reason women stand guard outside a men’s room when other women are in there. Plus when a dude with a big ass beard waltzes into the women’s room people are going to throw hands
(I do know it’s important to do science to confirm the obvious, but still)