Being in a Social Soap Opera

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I seem to have the problem that I often attract weird social situations to me. It´s almost like I´m a magnet for unsavory situations, which, unfortunately, always seem to happen first subtly, behind my back, then becoming more and more blatant. (People trying to take advantage, or "step on my toes", or exert power in some way). These kinds of things happen over and over again. I often feel like I´m in the middle of some bizarre soap opera! And I really don´t understand it, because I generally keep to myself, do my work conscientiously, and treat everybody with respect. I have no interest in these crazy, hysterical situations, they just seem to conglomerate around me for some reason. My parents have told me they think people are jealous of me, but this doesn´t really make sense: why would that many people be jealous of me?

Does anyone have this problem? If so- any advice on what to do?

That happens to me, quite a bit. There are so many people in my life, who are jealous of me. It's like people are out to harm me, in order to level the playing field. I don't have any advice, though. I have a hard enough time, handling this, myself.

Wow... sounds like my life when I have friends

I don't know about the jealousy part, but this is a consistent problem in my life. I'm dealing with it right now and I don't know how to stop it or see it's potential before it starts. It starts out with a casual conversation with a neighbor who seems nice and the association progresses and the person turns out to be very needy and emotionally unstable and demanding of more and more of my time. The one I'm dealing with now called me 5 times today, all to talk about herself and how the world is out to get her.

Yes I get that kind of thing sometimes. I think it's because I don't judge people and have a penchant for unusual types, who often turn out to have issues. Most people would probably take one look at them and steer clear, but I just wade in and start making friends with them.

They don't usually drag me into any great trouble though......I just watch their anarchic lives going through turmoil and feel sad that there's not a lot I can do to help. I'm fairly patient listening to their ranting because to them I know it's important stuff.....sometimes I can clear a few blocks for them, other times I can't.

Haha! Me too! I've always attracted people with "problems," so to speak. I don't know why. My grandma was the same way. Random people would just some up to her and tell her their effed-up life stories. Same for me! And all my friends seem to have varying mental issues.

Ditto (except my mom is the problem magnet not my grandma)
p.s. I like your pic

I have also attracted people with problems; less so nowadays, as I know now what signs to look out for, so I make a getaway before the situation gets bad. But with this thread, I´m talking more about bad situations and social intrigue that seems to form around me, with *me* as the center somehow, being the scapegoat. These situations usually involve more than 1 other person, are complicated, and very often happen at work. (Although, I imagine that the people who start them are "people with problems". )

And, often, they are people I barely know....though some of these people in the past have also been "friends" who betrayed me, which I felt very badly about.

That sounds similar to me. I certainly seem to only have friends who are unusual and that have associated issues. The time when I had most friends was when I was most involved in these sorts of strange situations. It got too much and I yearned for time by myself, eventually becoming wary of making any social contact at all. Probably not trusting my judgement in social situations, so just not engaging in any.

It cuts both ways as I would guess that many of us *also* have issues - quite visible in some cases much as we may try to hide them. Which is interesting as it would explain why "most people take one look and steer clear" of me, too. Leaving only the odd ones to befriend.

I think NT's get involved in 'soap operas' too - they take up much TV time so I assume those programmes are based on something? It's the kind of situation that's different. I imagine NT's would mostly be in complex relationships. Mine were far stranger than that!

It might be a problem for some with ASD and it might have something to do with the lack of reciprocity component which makes it harder to navigate social situations. I've struggled with this myself, quite often. My advice is to be careful.

Thanks

Yeah it happens to me. I think people become curious because they figure out something about me is different and so try to probe and see which buttons to push. I get very anxious and annoyed with them. In the past when I have complained to friends they have said that people are jealous. I don't get the jealousy thing though. But i wonder if its because their lives are boring and so they imagine mine is much more interesting.......

I usually accidentally work my way into dramas by not keeping my mouth shut.

I'll just be quiet this year.

welcome to the world of socialization, folks!

That's what I go thru all the time with friends; loads upon loads of bullsh!t drama.

I find it to be overly idiotic, and no matter how many toes get stepped on, they all manage to "work it out and all be friends" in the end.

I just look on completely dumbfounded the entire time....

You're allowed to say BS for some reason.

It seems that the people around me want to make it a soap opera, when I just want to do my thing, and live life, the way that I please.