manipulation

i think i've been spending way too much time on instagram lately, because once again, after seeing some random instagram post, i somehow ended up thinking about manipulation.

does anyone else feel like we've been hearing that word way too much lately, or have i just been exposed to it more than usual? whether i'm reading posts online, taking advice from instagram psychologists, or sitting around talking about problems with friends, it's always the same words:

"manipulation, manipulative, manipulator."

actually, another one just came to mind: regulate. but i like that one. regulate yourself. regulate your emotions. struggle to regulate, but regulate anyway. i used it in a post a few months ago, got it out of my system, and i still think it sounds kind of cool.

anyway, back to manipulation.

whenever people talk about problems in relationships, this seems to be the word that comes up first. people have no problem accusing the other person of being manipulative, but in reality, nobody really knows who is what. i guess it has always been like this. maybe we just didn't call everything manipulation before. or maybe we did and i was completely clueless.

i've used the word myself plenty of times, of course. and i haven't just used it casually in a sentence either. i've definitely labeled people as manipulators before. the funny part is that i've also been accused of being manipulative myself. so good luck figuring out who's actually right.

and apparently these manipulative assholes are everywhere. the sneaky ones, the calculating ones, everyone has their own little game going. you've got people messing with your head under the excuse of "i'm only doing this for your own good." people who look perfectly well intentioned. people who have practically written the textbook on playing the victim. people who twist your words, interrupt you, reshape everything you say, and somehow make it work in their favor. then there are the ones who look you straight in the eye and somehow make reality do a backflip.

every flavor is represented. sweet lies, ugly lies, white lies, colorful lies, tactics, labels, psychological terms. whatever you're looking for, apparently it's all here.