Is anyone else submissive?

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I'd say I'm submissive, but stubborn. I'm certainly not assertive. Leading me along is hard though because of the anxiety and discomfort involved in doing something I don't want to do. I end up just freezing up and wanting to cúrl (can someone explain to me why I can't post that word normally without a "website in maintenance" error message appearing?) up in a ball and cry. It's those moments when I get childish - I don't even say "no" under those circumstances, I just make a childish groan like a 5-year-old.

I dunno how I come across on the internet, but in real life, I make 10-year-olds look mature.

Yep...your brother sounds like a winner, DCJ.

My brother is similar in some way---but not as violent.

My brother has a Machiavellian-type mind.

Over the years, he realized that he had to restrain his more violent impulses.

When I was very young, I broke a few of his things. I was an really autistic kid. He bears a grudge to this day.

I'm sorry you have to deal with somebody like your brother.

I have a strong desire to please. Too much so I believe because I get manipulated easily. But, I have a great deal of trouble with things that don't make sense. Those are the times I am not submissive.

I don't really trust people much anymore.

I am for certain and I think in my case its because of my low self esteem issues and a lifetime of reducing my anxiety by avoiding potential conflict. I also feel responsible for upsetting others, which is daft I know but nonetheless is something I have struggled with.

I guess I could conclude that I'm not submissive.

Punishments didn't discouraged me nor instilled fear upon me and got anger, annoyance, and hatred.
Instead of complying, I avoid or resist.

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I am not submissive unless I'm afraid or unsure, which is often. I'm actually too submissive or too assertive depending on the situation.

I'm actually very stubborn and can be very argumentative if I think that I'm right about something. I also usually don't respect authority figures.

I was emotionally, physically, and verbally abused as a child. I was sexually abused as a teenager and in adulthood. I have no idea whether those things have affected the way I assert myself today.

I used to be very submissive/unassertive when I was younger. I'm still submissive/unassertive, but less so.

For me usually no, im not easily swayed but it completely depends upon the situation. There is one person I'm pretty submissive with but I consider him my leader, that's not in a bad way though.

Interesting that you mention "not being easily swayed", Starfoxx.

This is a great source of tension for me, as I'm not easily swayed either. When I act submissively to others, I'm not actually taking on their ideas, just giving the external appearance that I am. I find myself thinking, "You don't really care what I think, and I can't really express it, so I'll carry on believing what I want, and pander to you just so that you leave me alone."

It's taken me a long time to admit to myself that I can actually be quite passive-aggressive with this, or at least appear so. There's a certain kind of subversion going on where the other person thinks they got what they want, then I go off and do what I was going to do all along.

I think it started with my Dad years ago. His punishment for most things was to send us kids to our room alone. My brother hated this punishment, so it was effective on him. But I never let on that being alone in my room was exactly what I wanted to do, so it was no punishment at all. After all, my parents wanted me to do well at school, so they were hardly going to criticise me for "studying" with my science books instead of having "fun" with everyone else.

I'd get out of overwhelming family social functions sometimes by committing some minor naughtiness, then be really submissive about accepting my "punishment". Dad thought he had been an effective disciplinarian, but actually, it was me that really got what I wanted. The submissiveness was real, not acted out, but I had found a way to use his feeling of power over me to my advantage. Now that I look back, I was a pretty devious little sh1t sometimes.

Some very interesting takes on submissiveness. Upon further reflection, I think I submit to others mainly to avoid the overwhelming prospect of arguing, and often through the realization that argumentation is a waste of time. Additionally, I have an irrational fear of being judged by others in situations, which could be some anxiety-related problem of mine.