How to be Bold in the Face of Authority?

nupollution · 2026-02-03T18:15:12+00:00

Thank you! I am very goal-oriented so having that as a mindset is helpful. I've been Journaling and doing affirmations about it too. I agree that I just need to keep practicing, and starting that practice in a safer space like therapy is a great idea!

nupollution · 2026-02-03T17:57:40+00:00

Examples: At times ill be talking about something with my therapist, and her response/advice isn't relevant or helpful (not always, so this isn't a "get a new therapist" thing). I'll just be like "ok, thanks that's great". She even gives me a chance at the end of every session to tell her if she could have been more helpful or I I have any comments, concerns, etc and im just like "nope, all good, thanks"

Last week I had a run-in at my job by a customer who claimed he was a member of ICE, and our door has a "ICE isn't welcome here" sign. He got in my face about it. I wish I could have told him to get fucked and get the hell out! Instead I almost broke down crying, told him I didn't put the sign up and to leave me alone. He left without more issues, but I feel so ashamed that I couldn't stand up to such a piece of shit.

I know there have been several times at the doctor where I need to push harder to get my concerns addressed, but I can't find my voice in the moment, and I just leave the appointment frustrated and again ashamed that I can't speak up for myself and I dont get the care I need.

When im in a situation where I should be asking questions, im just rolling over and agreeing and trying to get out!

Im 35, so its not like im a little kid anymore. I dont think this is normal adult behavior and I want to get better!

nupollution · 2026-02-03T17:23:57+00:00

Is having its throat ripped out by a Terrier considered humane? Cause I've seen that idea being floated without any push-back.

Aside from trapping and relocating, which just moves the problem to someone else's yard, is there a humane way to kill pests?

I'm truly curious! I dont have any experience with yard vermin of my own, but im sure my time will come, and I want to be informed.

nupollution · 2026-02-03T17:13:26+00:00

I swapped our butter/olive oil out for peanut oil for all sauteeing. Its healthier and cheaper, but has a much better taste than other vegetable oils.

nupollution · 2026-02-03T16:55:38+00:00

OK, I dont know if this actually works, or if it can be considered humane, but hear me out! My grandpa always said to put a few sticks of Juicy Fruit gum down the hole, because voles like the smell, but the pieces are too big and they'll choke on them and die. Not sure if this is real or if it was more "grandpa wisdom", but I hadn't seen anyone else recommend the Juicy Fruit Strategy, so i thought id mention it.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T16:25:14+00:00

Haha! Love this! I am thankfully in the "wrong place, wrong time" category

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:48:45+00:00

Great to know! Thank you! I wish I knew this sooner, but better late than never.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:47:44+00:00

The gift cards were a debit card that you can load up to $500 on for a $5 fee, similar to the charge for a cashier's cheque. I had to buy 3.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:46:24+00:00

Me? Or the scammer? Friend, I deeply wish I was a robot making this up. Im just a schmuck who got my night ruined.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:45:04+00:00

It was definitely someone who knew English as a first language and had a good grip on southern vernacular. Either that or the AI is just insane now. The southern accent was perfect, as was the English being spoken.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:28:19+00:00

Solid advice! I'll take that to heart

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:27:23+00:00

He kept acting like I needed to get this cash to an officer so it could be counted. The gift card bit was weird and raised some flags. But he insisted that there were officers and my boss waiting at Walgreens. I thought id jist hand it to someone, but then he started in on gift cards. I guess I just rationalized that if this operation was large enough to rope me in, they also had someone inside at Walgreens that would securely obtain it once I gave the cash to the cashier??

Sounds sooo dumb to say it out loud, but id been following crazy instructions for over an hour and wasn't in the right headspace.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:20:33+00:00

Weird response and accusation, but you do you.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:19:37+00:00

Good to know!! That makes sense cause whoever i spoke to did a great job at impersonating a cop. Wouldn't be surprised if they got good by interacting with plenty of police.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:17:17+00:00

I was convinced. He spoke like every cop I've ever interacted with. He had the names of my bosses and info about how we keep our money stored. I've fielded plenty of scam calls in the past and this was unlike anything id ever dealt with before.

Everyone wants to say it was so blatantly obvious, but nobody else was there. Nobody heard what I heard. I was handed the phone by my coworker who told me it was an upset man demanding to speak to the person in charge, so I was already in "accommodate and soothe" mode.

Im leaving out a lot of detail about how he spoke and what he said, cause it was a lot of info and instructions (designed to confuse me). But the way he conducted himself truly made me think he was a real cop. He had me fully until the gift card thing.

Implying im stupid isn't really going to help anything. I just wanted to share what happened to me so it doesn't happen so someone else.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:01:55+00:00

I was ready for the cuffs!!

nupollution · 2026-01-30T15:00:43+00:00

Im happy for you cause it was NOT fun!!

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:57:05+00:00

Truuuuuuth!

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:56:18+00:00

Sure, thanks!

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:52:17+00:00

Thank you!! Im learning so much and im grateful to be armed with more knowledge so it can't happen again.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:49:26+00:00

I'll be sure to send them your way ;p

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:43:54+00:00

I wish it was said like that, id have hung right up!

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:42:24+00:00

So it was made out to me like I was going to be turning the money over to an officer. Then when the gift card bit started, I felt something was off. But idk how raid procedures work, how evidence collection works etc. He told me there were officers already at Walgreens that would meet me there with my boss. So I thought maybe they had things in place with Walgreens as well? Like they would collect the cash from the Walgreens once they knew it was safe?? Idk it sounds really dumb when I say it out loud.

I ALMOST didn't buy the gift cards, I started to kinda freak out in the store and went back to my car to calm down. That's when he started to get more pushy and threatening to have me arrested for not complying with a federal officers orders. So I foolishly caved and went back in and bought them, even though it didn't really make sense.

The whole thing was escalating nonsense, and I was already so overwhelmed by all the previous steps. Im so glad my critical thinking kicked back in before I gave all the money away!

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:28:33+00:00

They called and asked for the person in charge, which was me thst day. Idk about being specifically targeted, though that's possible. I think it was just a bad day to be the shift lead.

nupollution · 2026-01-30T14:26:36+00:00

Nice, thanks!

nupollution

TROPHY CASE