Just Ask Georgia: 3/5/2025

GEORGIA, I have a question,

My current partner has claimed since we started dating two years ago that bullying is his love language. Some days, I handle it well. Other days, it makes me feel very disconnected and unwanted.

He enjoys taking jabs at me and has repeatedly claimed that this is what he saw between his parents, so it’s normal.

I have pointed out to him that using his parents is not the greatest example of a marriage as both spouses cheated and his mother finally left his father after 20+ years of marriage, once the youngest of six children turned 18.

There are other examples of ways his father treated his mother that I have explained to him were abusive. He thought the examples were funny, not abusive.

There are days when I have told him his bullying is too much and that he needs to take it down a notch. He says I can’t handle a joke and take things too seriously.

He says I overthink and am too sensitive; I tell him he is insensitive. I’ve said to him that bullying is not a love language and that jabs will never replace affection, joking will never replace consideration, and bullying will never replace love.

Yesterday it was continuous and I was really annoyed. I finally asked him, “Is there anything else you would like to criticize me about today?” He just laughed. What should I do?

BULLIED BY LOVE

Dear BULLIED,

Get out. Now. THIS SECOND. This man does not love you; he loves having you as his verbal punching bag. Unfortunately, this behavior seems to have been cultivated by his parent’s unhealthy relationship, and he is likely never to change. You’ve already tried to show him the abusive undertones of their relationship - there’s not much more you can do now other than leave. NOW. Two years is too long.

With love, GEORGIA

Have a question for Georgia? Email her at whledger@gmail.com.

Please note: this column is just for fun. No person, animal, or property has ever been harmed or in danger. Satire is “the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.”