I had an experience tonight.
It wasn't the first time.
It won't be the last.
But I am changing how I approach such things.
These days?
I ask for backup.
And I expect it.
If you care about the safety of women.
If you value who I am and the words I have to share.
I have always been one to ask questions.
Ask the questions others simply don't want to ask.
I have also been one who stands up to bullies.
Provides a voice and comfort for the vulnerable.
Even though he no longer deserves it from me, my daughter's father is one for whom I would once fiercely step in and protect, as I did one evening when he was hit in the side of his head with a drunk little punk carrying a cell phone and throwing his loud mouth around, which in this case was below our bedroom window. When my spouse returned inside with blood dripping down his face, I wanted blood myself.
Revenge.
Justice.
NOW.
I risked my own safety, and as if on auto pilot, ran outside to confront this little punk and show him a thing or two. Luckily, his friends were already holding him in place, but that didn't stop him from hurling obscenities my way. I didn't even know the young man. He was just - a jerk.
There was the other time when someone (who I learned had just gotten out of jail) was threatening my daughter's father at a later time. I literally walked between the two of them and told the guy to get in his car and drive off.
It's funny when I think about it.
Ironic.
How the thought of driving on the freeway will send me into terror, but some bully with a loud mouth threatens someone I care about?
WATCH. OUT.
Tonight, as I do every day, I was gathering information for one of my other websites. As I did, I posed a question. A simple question. Are you voting this November and if so, why?
And it immediately turned into a firestorm where I was called A Whore and a Dildo.
By two men.
One I have corresponded with several times over the last 2 years.
I've been called worse, but they still felt threatening and violent for me.
And grossly obscene, toxic, and assaultive.
These two came in so quickly, my feed was filled up in under a minute with these verbal assaults.
After a lifetime of having no one strong enough or caring enough to come to my defense when I've been in situations where I am being threatened or abused, well - after this episode tonight?
I am expecting some help.
Someone to have my back.
Another man call my friend these names?
Or god help him my daughter?
Yeah.
You are going to hear from me.
At the very least, you will be reported for threatening, harassing language.
And offered some comfort.
But as I sit here, I breathe out a deep sigh because I know what the likely result will be: Silence.
And in that silence is life long pain.
Of not being protected when I not only needed it, but deserved it.
💥
Victoria