Abby and the Secret Society Part1

[alula_auburn]

Comments

[shatisarockgod]

It's so strange going back to these books as an adult. I think this is another book I didn't read because I'd moved to other book series by this point. All the pushiness from the sitters, I probably didn't even notice or care about as a kid. And now it's just cringeworthy how "I've got to make over your personality so you'll be a social butterfly and have 60495695 friends for anybody that was shy, new in town or whatever else reason a person has for not being outgoing/having a lot of friends. Guess the same could apply for the book where Claire had her vampire phobia. lyke omg we've got to tackle that one! Phobias are a strange thing. Sometimes a person naturally grows out of them. Sometimes you're stuck with them. I'm 29 years old and I've been afraid of roaches my entire life. Yeah, I realize it's straight up crazy. "You're bigger than some stupid roach!" That doesn't stop my phobia any.

1. Yeah, you'd think this absolutely impacted Mallory's life like she was the shy one/girl with no friends. No doubt Stephen would be pegged a difficult brat if he's set in his ways--kinda like Jenny P.

2. How did people get the thought into their head that shy = bitch? I get the feeling a lot of people think that way and I don't understand it.

3. I'm guessing shyness is kinda like the phobias I was talking about earlier. Maybe some kids DO grow out of the shyness. Others won't. And no, it doesn't make them a freak, troublemaker, bitch or anything else thrown at shy people because they don't bound up to people like a dog and jump all over them to talk to them.

4. Oh brother. At least I never got asked that. I wonder what kind of answer they expected or wanted? In my mind the only answer is "It's just the way that I am. Just like you're the way you are if you're somebody that can't shut up for 5 minutes.

[littlelatte]

2. How did people get the thought into their head that shy = bitch? I get the feeling a lot of people think that way and I don't understand it.

Word. I don't get it either but it's happened to me, and it can be pretty hurtful. And frustrating, too - so you think I'm a bitch because I'm quieter than other people, but a rude, obnoxious person who happens to be outgoing is okay? Sadly, that sometimes seems to be the case.

4. I got asked, "Why are you so shy, why are you so quiet?" a lot. Ugh, this. I've grown out of my shyness a lot - not completely, but a lot - but I've gotten these questions before. Or statements - "Wow, you're quiet!" Um, yeah. Thanks for pointing that out, I guess.

These subplot are so obnoxious. Way to alienate a good chunk of your readers, Ann and company. And as someone below pointed out, Mallory's criticisms of Stephen are so painfully ironic, it's actually pretty funny. I know it'd never happen, but I'd LOVE it if someone pointed that out to her.

[alula_auburn]

2. How did people get the thought into their head that shy = bitch? I get the feeling a lot of people think that way and I don't understand it.

I think it's a combination of people taking it personally, or thinking that shyness means someone doesn't want to talk to THEM, specifically, and also a lack of empathy. Even with my official shiny social anxiety disorder, my parents still tell me to just not be so shy--my mom especially doesn't get why sometimes it's really hard to be social.

[lisaerin]

Yes, maybe people assume that if I don't talk back to them I'm being rude. It's like they don't consider the fact that some people have trouble interacting with others. The annoying part is that I don't know why I get scared about socializing but I just do. Of course, I wouldn't want to talk to the BSC and it doesn't have anything to do with being shy. I'm interested in anxiety disorders, especially social anxiety. I was considering looking into being a child psychologist.