Ugh. I never list myself by my real name (or show my face) in online dating because I don't want my ex to find me. 99% of people are cool with that. But tonight when I told someone I had been chatting with a bit my real name, he made a rude comment along the lines of "I didn't get the memo we could lie about our names" and just really pushed my buttons. I'm bi, so I date women, and I know I'm not the only one that does that.

This isn't the first time that someone has told me that I'm overreacting or being weird for having a boundary that keeps me safe, and having come out of a relationship where any request for safety and security was overreacting, it triggers the trauma so bad each time. I block them and move on, but I'm so tired of having reasonable boundaries disrespected.