boundaries are optional, apparently
for essentially as long as i can remember, i have had my boundaries stepped on and torn apart by everyone around me, even those who claimed to care about me. apparently, i am not allowed to set concrete boundaries of "no, no thank you," no matter how politely i phrase them. if you're too polite about it, you get stomped on until you break and scream your desire to be left alone or treated like an actual human being. but then you're the bad guy, of course! you aren't allowed to have negative emotions! you aren't allowed to be furious at me for stomping on you until you shattered!
you aren't allowed to ignore me. you aren't allowed to "talk back." you aren't allowed to use the goddamn block button on social media, either. in summary, you aren't allowed to say no.
of course, everyone else is. but not you. you were too "polite" about it, too much of a "doormat," and when that didn't work, you were too "mean" and "demanding."
and then they wonder why i'm moved to genuine tears when i have to politely tell someone "no, i'm uncomfortable."