I’m pretty scary. Trust me. People in my office have told me so. Many people over the course of my life have told me so. I’m intimidating. Luckily, these days it’s when I want to invoke that impression. I have some control. The other day there were two teenagers having a domestic in a bus shelter. Lots of screaming, sobs and arms waving. We ignored it in our office for a short time but when {from across the intersection through our closed office doors} we could still hear them, I went out.
And I was scary.
Intimidating.
But calm and stern.
I like to imagine that one day that voice, the face, will work perfectly with unruly teenagers of my own. I told them to stop carrying on or I would call the police. I told them to have some respect for themselves and those around them. Many commuters had moved away from the area not wanting to get caught up in a physical altercation. He sneered at me and said, call them, whatever, I don’t care. Right! I said, turning on my heel, consider it done.
So I stalked back into my office and dialled the direct dial number {hello, property manager people, I have the police station on speed dial}. An officer was on the road nearby so the car swung by soon after. Their proximity to the area helped bundles. My threats to drag these kids up there myself might have also assisted. Haha.
The situation over and done with a new colleague said ‘I wouldn’t want to mess with you, you’re terrifying’ and she’s right. You should absolutely not mess with me. I’m a scary, straight talking, big-mouthed person. But I’m not that too. I’m proud to say that on the most part, scary is a gear I shift into when I need to control a situation rather than who I am for people. Who I am for people is much more snuggly and warm. Thank goodness.
Are you scary or is it just me? Describe yourself in 3 words?
Hi! I’m Suger; Chief Blogger at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; love a casual ootd, taking photos + writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days in the sun at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet. Which means I take photos, create content, write copy and devise social media plans for personal brands, small businesses and bloggers. You know, living the sweet life.
I can’t do it in three words.
But I guess I’m much the same as you.
Funny though the amount of people that are close and dear to me in my life now thought when they first ever met me thought that I was intimidating and I scared them. Go figure because I certainly don’t walk around with a look on my face like I’m on a war path.
Same, especially those who met me prior to the last personal development course I did. Intimidating was first cab of the rank. 😉
I don’t think I’m scary but maybe my kids think differently!
Haha. Maaaaybe. 😉
Fair, firm, demanding. (That is at work)
I like fair. I hope people would use fair in relation to me.
Respectful, patient and firm. Qualities i have fine tuned as a teacher. I am with you, knowing how to unleash the ‘scarey’ is useful, yet it rarely means your actually angry. In fact, I try not to react when genuinely angry, especially when I’m teaching. So, the calmer and more silent I am the deadlier lol if I am using my ‘teacher voice’ I am most likely not angry at all. I’m just proving a point 😉
You teacher’s! Love it. Haha. I think it’s important to be able to generate yourself and like you I try not to react or speak too much when I actually AM angry.
Most people say funny, kind, and approachable. But I can get scary if I need to. People say its doubly scary, because I’m so warm and fuzzy 90% of the time, its a shock to find me intimidating.
Like BAM! scary, coming at you. I get that. It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for. Haha.
Snuggle Bunny
Is that for you or me? Haha.
coconut – hard on the outside soft on the inside
Nice one!
I want to say you’ve got ballz, but can I say that on the interwebs! I often mouth off at people when they are out of line but one day I think someone is going to punch me (or worse)!
Yeah, you can say that on the internet. No problem. Haha. I absolutely consider that too, the last thing I want is to have my home, car or self attacked by some vengeful type, but I find most of these people are sooks when it comes down to it. All bark, no bite.
I was known as the bitch of my grade in high school. For real.
I wouldn’t use that as a word to describe myself as a person now, I can be a bitch, yes, but I am not a bitch.
I think the same applies to a lot of area’s. I’m not a patient person, but people say I am a patient mother. Half the people I know say that I don’t shut up, and the other half say that I’m quiet. I just think it depends the mood and situation you catch a person in.
I like this. It’s true, we all have areas of life that we are a little bit different in and utilise different skills. I hope one day my patience will show up as a patient mother. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Oh I can be real mean when I need to be! Say hello to the teacher in me!! haha.
I used to get called a bitch at school, but that was simply because i stood up for myself rather then because I was nasty or specifically mean to anyone.
The older I get the more I value being a NICE person, but I still like that I have enough fight in me to intimidate kids into compliance when necessary hahaha.
ok, three words: Independent, Childish & Loyal
Another teacher, dragging out the scary. Haha. I think often woman who stand up for themselves are labelled bitches. It’s silly really. What every parent would want for their girl {and boy, let’s face it} is to be able to stand for what they think is right no caught up in a crowd. I like nice too. Not doormat nice, just genuine nice.
I like your three words. Nice one.
completely understand. There is something wonderful about a woman who can unleash her power when she needs it but keeps it under control when she doesnt. I also get told I am scary by my kids but my patients dont think so. Except for the little kids who ignore my requests for certain behaviour. All they need is the look from me. Sometimes I scare myself!
Unleashing it, that’s exactly what it is. I bet you have it in bucket loads lady. You’re a powerhouse.
Gentle sweet & kindly …ok I was joking about that…I have a “presence” that says ” don’t mess with me” which means I feel safe alone at night as I did last weekend in Sydney walking around Circular Quay. The teacher me comes out as well. Handy for those times in a shopping centre when parents decide to ignore the behaviour of the kids ..I just give a look. It works….
I have that presence. My Dad calls it purposeful. Like there’s not loitering/wandering/vagueness about me. I’m there for a reason, get out of my way. And for you, I would absolutely use those three words, and a few more for good measure. 😉
I would have called the police without going out to confront them myself. A domestic between a teenage boy and girl? Worth calling the police before something happens – that is the job they are trained to do after all.
I don’t have three words. I’m not scary but I do know how to win an argument. And I also know I don’t need to win every argument.
Yeah, you’re probably right. You never do know how these things turn out in the end.
I think it’s SO important to be able to be okay with not winning every argument, a great skill indeed.
Love your posts!
I’m friendly, can get along well with everyone, love to laugh and don’t let things stress me out. Real anger is very rare for me – frustration yes, but not anger. Although when I was about 25 I did get told by a 40 year old woman that I was intimidating! And I had been nothing but friendly and laughing with her so I’m unsure where that came from…. I guess take it as a compliment? Haha
Thank you!
I think sometimes REALLY friendly people can be intimidating. It’s the in your face familiarity that they {cough WE} can project. It unnerves people. So yeah, I’d take that as a compliment. This time. 😉