It is diabolical how easily any of us can be manipulated, especially when we have such strong desires as the need to feel loved or valuable.

True, but I don't think I would go all "blue pilled" out. I know that my friend is being manipulated.

:(

So you think that people are that easy to manipulate?

It all depends on who and when.

Niva tried it to me. Oh, you are so cute, I live your art, and I think it's great that you are a furry. A year later, I don't think you should draw furry art, I don't like your friends, and you spend too much time feeding your dog. The dog thing is what made me tell that person to take a hike.

My dad groomed the hell out of my mom, and us kids. I lived threw one of his lies for over 30 years that fucked up my life, but I recovered for the most part.

My mother tried. It failed. Did not stop 4 predatory boy friends of hers from forcedly molesting me. The folks I keep close are aware.

Man, that sucks, sorry to hear that. That brings back bad memories, that I don't want to dive into.

Sorry ol bean

That's a very generalized question with an easy answer: Yes, depending on the person and the circumstance.

Youth, naïvete, and yes, love, are all conditions that make people easily manipulated, gaslit, and able to have their trust in another abused. There's a whole field of psychology about this, not even anecdotal. Codependency in a relationship thrives on such manipulation (and speaking as someone who was abused in this fashion, many years ago, it's something you can easily fall into the trap of if someone you trust and care about to let your guard down with, wishing to please them, abuses that power over you. The manipulation of trusting (or even just gullible and ignorant) people is an ongoing problem with the human race and one that is only partially mitigated by time, wisdom, and skepticism.

Hopefully they see the truth before it is to late!

Several times it's been too late. I didn't realize that something that I was told when a very young adult turned out to b e a huge lie that kept me from doing better in life.