vilified practices

People afraid of manipulation 
typically have good reason to be. 
They warn you how sinister others are
- how there's no way to tell! 'Til the façade
flips up like a visor and leering back at you
suddenly is the sinister grin of a stranger.
A stranger who has made you - made you 
Do What They Want. How? How
did they do this? How hoodwink, override 
your will and defense mechanism, explicitly 
vowed and sworn, honed and designed 
to prevent just this, ever again 
after last time! What part of 
"Never trust again!" did one's 
defense mechanism not understand? 

First word, apparently. Two syllables, 
starts with N. But how did they slip in, 
work in, worm in and do the deed,
the deed, the vile deed 

of manipulation? Which is: anything you do 
hoping the other will react some way (positively) 
hoping the other will see something some way
(hopefully). That's manipulation. It is the exclusive 
province of evil, anyway, to hear some tell it. I think 
they exaggerate somewhere and overlook their own 
to arrive at that diagnosis. How, though how? 

How was this cruel mind-trick pulled off
yet again upon one so leery and wary 
you would not believe it? How did they 
'make you' Do What They Want - which was 
exactly what they wanted you to do?

The explanation will shock you. It's
a little too neat. They did it by the simple expedient 
of you wanting it yourself. Wanting it for
the simple joy a free and stringless giving brings,
singing and ringing and growing in the giver. Leaving
the giver with more than they had before
they gave. For this one, all for this one, 
who has made you want their own good. Because
you have found in their own good a great part
of your own. This

is what made you want to give. 

What a dull and dishwater dirty trick 
that is. You will scrub your hands raw 
in this full and pinkening sink, empty 
of bowls, plates, glasses or anything 
you could fill with anything good, 
empty of forks or knives or spoons 
or anything usefully utensil, full 
of used soap that has lost its sud
and the trace of blood you wash
and scrub from your hands, trying 
to clean yourself. To purge yourself 
of trust again. To scourge yourself 
'til the lesson sinks in.  

It's about manipulators. They are horrible 
and you never can tell so it's too stupid 
to risk. They leave you broken and drained 
of all you freely gave. They identified you
in some way. You are helpless before 
their guile and craft and graft and gaslit 
clutches and grasps, once you let them 
in. 

If you do, you're a fool. 

They want you to feel or think some way, 
or they do or say things hoping with motives 
on full-bore ulterior that you 

will do or say things. Specific things! Which THEY 
choose to hope for! Not what you had in mind, maybe 
but then you realize what THEY WANT ("hey, what a handy hint
- sweet!") and that makes you realize "hey, I kind of 
want that. I want it too." 

Guess what fool. You just got manipulated
and the more you look, the more you see
they're everywhere all up in your easy-access 
mind and heart, apparently. Making you feel
and do whatever 
they so very damn well please. 

People afraid of manipulation 

Typically have good reason to be.