My tactic was to be upfront and sincere, to own my bullshit when I did it, and if they get wittingly manipulative, don’t tolerate it.
The keepers will strive to do better. The others will reveal themselves.
Of course, my advantage was years in the recovery sector and the BDSM community (which plays with fire, sometimes literal, sometimes psychological) so I had a leg up re: self awareness.
My tactic was to be upfront and sincere, to own my bullshit when I did it, and if they get wittingly manipulative, don’t tolerate it.
The keepers will strive to do better. The others will reveal themselves.
Of course, my advantage was years in the recovery sector and the BDSM community (which plays with fire, sometimes literal, sometimes psychological) so I had a leg up re: self awareness.