The Trip
Hi! Went on a trip with some friends who didn't know about my SA. It was a long car trip, so we talked about many things along the way. One of the things that came up was child abuse. I didn't start the conversation and was a little uncomfortable. These friends had no idea that I had been SA. I am always amazed at the "myths" that permeate our society. The things they thought about child abuse were amazing. These are normal (if there is such a thing) every day people, so I have to assume that their concepts are the concepts of most of the people in our society. Before I realized what I was doing, I was talking about the subject as if I knew what I was talking about, which I do...which we all do...for obvious reasons. I was attempting to dispel one myth after another. Thank goodness I had given a talk on this at church and had had to look up statistics, etc. (This site is a gold mine of information for that sort of thing.)
Well, finally, I figured that it was dishonest to keep talking that way without telling them that I was a survivor, so I did. I didn't go into detail or anything, but tried to answer their questions as honestly as possible. They are good friends...kind people...so the time we spent in discussing my abuse was positive for me and I hope for all of us.
But, I was simply amazed that these intelligent, caring, understanding people still pretty much believed most of the myths which are listed here on on the site. It made me all the more determined to make the world more aware of what being a male survivor is and what it isn't. Until male SA is brought out into the light, it will continue to be a thing of whispers and misinformation. I'm through whispering. I was attacked, abused, raped...whatever you want to call it. I had nothing to be ashamed of then, and I have nothing to be ashamed of now. And, most of all, against all odds, I survived. And, on the days when I'm not overwhelmed by battling all that "stuff" that goes along with my SA, I find the fact that I had/have the strength to survive it absolutely amazing! Bobby
Well, finally, I figured that it was dishonest to keep talking that way without telling them that I was a survivor, so I did. I didn't go into detail or anything, but tried to answer their questions as honestly as possible. They are good friends...kind people...so the time we spent in discussing my abuse was positive for me and I hope for all of us.
But, I was simply amazed that these intelligent, caring, understanding people still pretty much believed most of the myths which are listed here on on the site. It made me all the more determined to make the world more aware of what being a male survivor is and what it isn't. Until male SA is brought out into the light, it will continue to be a thing of whispers and misinformation. I'm through whispering. I was attacked, abused, raped...whatever you want to call it. I had nothing to be ashamed of then, and I have nothing to be ashamed of now. And, most of all, against all odds, I survived. And, on the days when I'm not overwhelmed by battling all that "stuff" that goes along with my SA, I find the fact that I had/have the strength to survive it absolutely amazing! Bobby
