It's Assertiveness Training Week

[cjsmith]

At least it is in the CJ-universe, apparently.

I need a polite but firm way to say...

- To my physical therapist: "If I'm going to come in here and do my entire assigned routine for over an hour without anyone to check up on me, I'm also going to not pay you, 'k?"

- To one or two of my square dance friends and my health care providers: "Okay folks, y'all get in the same room together and YOU work out how much dancing I am to do. Come to me when you have agreed on something."

- To my podiatrist (or more precisely, her receptionist) "Follow-up appointments are not optional. I AM IN PAIN HERE."

- To the guy looking for volunteers: "No, I did NOT 'mention that I might be able to' do this. YOU brought it up when I didn't have my schedule with me; YOU are now bugging me about it again. I'm willing to check my schedule and see if it's possible, but when you misrepresent me you can bet your sweet bippy I'm not going to go the extra mile to make it possible."

Plus some work stuff. Plus what I want to say to my feet themselves, which oughtta be censored.

Comments

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Assertiveness is a good thing. I'm regrowing my spine, too :-)

And is it just me, or are most doctor's front offices full of idiots?

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Don't curse at your feet. Might only make that worse. Curse all you want at the incompetent medical front office and PT staff. Sheesh.

[sharya.livejournal.com]

Hehe, Gotta be positive to the feet :P

"Nice feet, GOOD feet. Aren't you looking wonderful today feet! Would you like a nice peppermint rub feet? Yes? Anything for you feet!"

Nothing like a little foot-suck-up :P

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

I especially like the sweet bippy part. Go you!

Damn feet, damn them! How DARE they hurt my CJ!!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Bwahaha! I like it!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Got the appointment - one down! :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

If nothing else, most doctor's front offices are overworked, understaffed, and don't have much information about the individual's medical state. I do need to regrow that spine.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I stole that phrasing from someone -- I don't even know what a bippy IS, much less why a bippy used as betting stakes always seems to be sweet.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

I always tell my friends to think WWMD (What Would Moira Do.) Moira would be a bitch and say no. Why? Because Moira can!

I have many friends (and a boyfriend) who just aren't assertive at all. They are baffled that I think it is fun (or funny) to have conflict. I might be insane, but I have no problem saying no.

So pretend you are me and kick some ass!

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

Ah, Another Fucking Opportunity For Growth. You get 'em, tiger.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

There are days I wish I were more like that. (Of course, there are also days I wish everyone else were a bit LESS like that.)

My guess is you were raised right.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hate those, sometimes.

[kateyule.livejournal.com]

My brother swears by swearing at/cursing at his warts -- "make them feel unwelcome and they go away" -- but that's not quite applicable to the neuromas, I gather.

bippy

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

I didn't know what a bippy was either. After reading this bulletin on the phrase "bet your sweet bippy" (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/27/messages/1196.html) I'm still not quite sure if bippy refers to "life, ass, boots, bottom dollar, etc." or "insert one of the aforementioned here." I also found an TV show phrase reference to coming from an NBC comedy variety show (http://www.tvacres.com/catch_y.htm).

...Strangely, I also found references that seemed to have nothing to do with betting any sweet bippys, such as one for a child's biplane rocker (http://www.rosenberryrooms.com/120bippy.html) and a story about a dog named Bippy, a penguin named Carl, & blogs (http://www.terrestrialball.com/offerings/2005/04/a_bippy_and_car.html).

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

I definitely got it from my mom. I did grow up in a medical household, so I try not to get bullied by medical professionals anymore. It still happens when I am caught offguard.

But see the medical professionals tend to forget that you (and all the other patients) are their customers. Not just someone to boss around, but customers. And without customers they wouldn't have a job.

Ive turned into a royal pain the last few years demanding customer service in general. At the doctor's office or at a restaurant. I''m tired of the whole "you should be happy we're deigning to speak to you" attitude from clerks and other people. Screw that! I am the one paying your salary.

You are the customer and you should be treated as such.

(I can't believe I was sort of coherent here, although babbly. I just woke up 5 minutes ago! Jeez I am Ranty McRantenstein lately.)