"People will sometimes read a story or see something online that upsets them and want others to feel that same level of distress so that they know they're not alone. What this response often lacks is consent. Yes, the news is public information, but how we receive that information, process it and react to it is still personal. She didn't respect a boundary that you set. That says to me she was less interested in commiseration than in misery."
"Don't let that misery keep you from engaging in this space. Dog parks can be complicated places socially (for humans), but you're not under any obligation to further explain yourself or to continue to be in a relationship with her. Since she's nearly a stranger, it's best to decide you have different approaches to conversation and to opt out of future exchange"
A woman at a neighborhood off-leash dog park repeatedly forced a graphic story about puppy medical procedures onto a park visitor who asked not to hear it. The woman persisted, escalated to yelling and swearing, then stormed off. The visitor finds animal-abuse content emotionally distressing and does not feel obliged to prove rescue involvement. The situation illustrates that some people seek shared distress without consent. Boundaries around upsetting content deserve respect. Parkgoers are not required to explain or defend their feelings. When someone is nearly a stranger and disregards boundaries, opting out of further interaction is reasonable.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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