Moxie's
Disease

• All troubles begin with a single sentence

• Go back to the source and defend yourself with spirit, courage, skill, and know-how — with Moxie's Disease!

• Contains 88 cards

• Each has an attack, a hint for defending yourself, and on the reverse side, a variety of two-word ripostes to nourish emotional intelligence.

• "You've Got a Life — Now Defend It!"

• www.taxi1010.com

You're a loser.

[Hint: They're taking you down a primrose path, that seems easy and appropriate enough, until you get to the can of worms!]

1.

Like crazy!
Totally different.
At best.
MANY TIMES!

—MANY TIMES!
—Part of one big machine.

But you have such a pretty face.

[Hint: They're withholding warmth or information, trying to make you feel jealous]

2.

No doubt.
Very enriching.
I guess.
Close enough.

—No doubt.
—What is there not to like?

[The finger]

[Hint: They're trying to get you going by posing trick questions, or falsely complimenting you]

3.

Whoa! Threatening.
And everything!
As if.
Why bother?

—As if.
—Quick reflexes! Stick it in your ear! Slit your throat!

What are you, a child?

[Hint: When they're attacking your character, get angry!]

5.

Unheard of.
More you!
Be resourceful.
Keep going! ...

—Be resourceful.
—Keep your eye on the sky.

No sale, not today.

[Hint: They're "above it all." The least you're putting yourself out, the more they'll respect you]

6.

Avoid entanglements.
Someone else.
You wonder.
Well said.

—Someone else.
—Some do, some don't.

How much did you pay for that?

[Hint: When you allow someone to praise you, you're giving them the implicit right to criticize you]

14.

Nothing much.
Just about.
The distance.
Can't wait!

—Can't wait!
—One of the more useless things on this earth.

Oooo, Watch out! That's a terrible thing to say!

[Hint: They're jumping the gun, trying to make you commit too soon]

16.

Pretty much.
Says who?
Different times.
Too early!

—Pretty much.
—Totally insensitive.

Do you know who that is?

[Hint: Totally unprovoked, they're taking potshots at you]

21.

Don't volunteer!
We'll manage.
And more!
Very mysterious.

—And more!
—Who wouldn't?

Nice BMW!

[Hint: They're drawing on class distinctions, or status]

28.

What's next?
Real old-fashioned.
Anytime, right?
In case.

—Anytime, right?
—Nice on mud.

Whassup?

[Hint: While we're making good-faith gestures towards evolving solutions, they're bedeviling us]

29.

Since when?
A joke!
Nothing crucial.
Just so!

—Just so!
—You don't want to go there.

That's your idea of a good wine? Where did you grow up again?

[Hint: They're trying to give you your "just deserts" – it's your comeuppance – What they say takes precedence over what you say]

32.

Not alone.
All around.
Do less.
It's unstoppable.

—All around.
—Sometimes it does pay to be ignorant.

Not my department.

[Hint: They're embarrassing you by airing their dirty laundry, and subjecting you to their "unconscious slips"]

33.

And furthermore!
Just vicious.
Not anymore.
Even less.

—Not anymore.
—Who is better at earning a living and making their way in the world?

You got a great tan! [to a Black woman]

[Hint: They're all baboons in a tree. Keep back a little. Lay low. In a world full of wolves, be wise as a serpent, and humble as a dove]

34.

Plenty!—Worse!
Smarten up!
That's impressive.
It's deeper.

—It's deeper.
—Don't let it get you down.

I'd let you in if you weren't driving a Japanese car.

[Hint: The deceptive ingredients of Passive Aggression ... Ostracism, Feigned innocence, Wolf's clothing]

36.

Right!—Absolutely.
It's important!
They're separate.
Go slow!

—It's important!
—Sounds like you just about had it.

Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

[Hint: They're trying to lay burdens on you - Why shouldn't a person learn as much as possible about sticking up for themselves?]

37.

Very nice.
Nothing urgent.
Either way.
Can't miss.

—Either way.
—Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may die.

[Credit card declined]

[Hint: This is bait & switch - They goad you with something desirable, then flip you over to something less desirable]

38.

Saved again!
Violent enough.
Very serious.
It's overwhelming.

—Violent enough.
—I'm not the first bad person.

No, I don't want an extra receipt – I don't cheat people.

[Hint: Full of hot air, hype, and invincible ignorance, they're bragging about it! - They just have the one thing to say to you to make you feel like two cents]

40.

See that?
Very strict.
Not bad.
Big change!

—Not bad.
—Does that mean that I am?

That was a sad movie.

[Hint: They're playing on our sense that others know better than we do]

42.

Even you?
Personal touch.
Above all!
Without trying!

—Above all!
—How little we know.

I hate it! – What do you think? [About her haircut]

[Hint: They're baiting you — Everybody regresses a little bit when they're around friends]

44.

I'm sure.
Another triumph.
Spare me!
Never naïve.

—Spare me!
—I don't care what the angels say to you.

So you had a nice Thanksgiving?

[Hint: They're trying to deconstruct or finesse you into a bleak and sour place (Can you see the hatred gases swirling in the sewer of their mind?)]

45.

It's shocking.
No wonder.
I hope.
Not many.

—I hope.
—Expect more!

You're so organized.

[Hint: They're harassing you. You don't have to say clever things to have a nice life. Do as little as possible]

47.

All set.
No sweat.
It's ludicrous!
We'll wait.

—No sweat.
—It's nice to make mistakes.

["Hi!"] [The cold shoulder]

[Hint: They're expressing hostility — In the olden days, if you said certain things, they'd kill you. That's the world their grandparents came from]

50.

Anything missing?
Total waste.
Many more!
It's murder!

—It's murder!
—It's practically killing me!

He'd be nice for you – He's a rebel.

[Hint: They're pushing your buttons - When you're around them, take your entire mind on a vacation]

51.

Clean slate!
Someone must.
Or else!
The reverse!

—Clean slate!
—Everyone has to tell themselves what to do.

No!

[Hint: They're assuming too much - Like in the movie, The Sixth Sense, they just see what they want to see]

52.

Within reach!
It's ridiculous.
I'm easy.
Missed out.

—Within reach!
—A little goes a long way.

Don't go into the kitchen – It looks bad.

[Hint: They're using exaggeration or hyperbole to provoke or intimidate you — If you're not attacking yourself, no one else can]

53.

Wild, huh?
Just normal.
Must you?
Or worse!

—Just normal.
—I've seen worse.

So how does your mom feel about the breakoff of your engagement?

[Hint: They use convoluted logic or tell lies to get your attention — Then they tell you what's really on their mind. They like to push people around]

55.

Certainly not.
That's all?
And? Rats!
Can't imagine.

—Can't imagine.
—That solves many problems.

Don't say hello or anything – just ignore us.

[Hint: They're asking a rhetorical question, or expressing an idea without much warmth - to create a puffed-up effect]

57.

No shit!
There's hope.
I'm waiting.
But why?

—But why?
—It must hurt.

What time do you come in in the morning?

[Hint: They switch from acting like their mother to acting like their father at the drop of a hat, to keep you under their thumb]

59.

Very funny.
Way ahead.
Much better!
YOU SHOULDN'T!

—Very funny.
—You must feel left out.

Do you wear those shoes at work every day?

[Hint: They're trying to provoke you into shocking yourself — It's called "tight corners"]

60.

Yeah, sure.
God knows!
Out working!
It's evolving.

—It's evolving.
—That old black magic.

That's not what Dino is saying.

[Hint: They're trying to deflate you, or ruin your fun with false acceptance]

62.

Screwy, huh?
Thank goodness!
Different things.
I've heard.

—Thank goodness!
—That would really help me.

Did you graduate?

[Hint: Usually when you feel uncomfortable, there's a reason - Someone wants you to - They're crazy!]

64.

Probably—Something.
Go on!
Oh, yeah!
Wild moments.

—Oh, yeah!
—Living dangerously, huh?

I have five children to feed.

[Hint: They're always trying to influence you]

65.

Maybe better!
Totally unexpected.
Everything changes.
Without stopping.

—Totally unexpected.
—Life isn't all bad, is it?

Don't you think that dress is a little revealing?

[Hint: They're analyzing]

66.

Holy Cow!
Think so?
Very clever.
Don't tell!

—Don't tell!
—Don't break the spell, that's all I ask.

[Car horn / finger / drive-by combo]

[Hint: They're totally blind to a lot of things, including warmth, kindness, or any kind of inner life]

67.

NOTHING LESS!
Who cares?
Not so!
TOO BAD!

—Who cares?
—IT WORKS!

I was totally not ready for the test, and I failed!

[Hint: They're throwing things at you in passing — It's literally hit-and-run — Notice that they need your attention for some reason]

68.

Oh, boy!
Cheap thrills.
The opposite.
Control yourself!

—Oh, boy!
—Remember, these people are all school teachers, and they got to be school teachers by toeing the line!

You have a freak flag – You just don't fly it.

[Hint: They're being lenient towards themselves, and disciplinarians towards everyone else]

69.

You're safe.
BACK OFF!
On schedule.
Nothing better.

—You're safe.
—I'm sure I don't need it.

With a body like that, you could go places!

[Hint: They're picking on you – To get along with someone, there's a little give-and-take, but a lot less than most people think]

71.

Little challenges.
Forget it!
How delicate.
Wise up!

—Wise up!
—You could go to Pleasure Island.

Have you got a cigarette?

[Hint: They're trying to punish you — People are constantly demoting other people to office boy]

73.

Until recently.
Maybe—Both!
Why not?
How amusing.

—Maybe.
—Don't look!

We haven't visited in a while.

[Hint: They're expressing themselves through self-centered wantonness and narcissism]

74.

Networking, eh?
Let go!
Forget that!
BOW WOW.

—Forget that!
—It's your fault!

You didn't eat all your food.

[Hint: It's show-biz: They give bad advice - to ruin people. Stick up for yourself — No one else will]

75.

Bad timing.
Many things!
You sure?
Crazy, huh?

—Many things!
—I am so good, I can have anything I want.

Why don't you have kids?

[Hint: They're trying to humiliate you — Any attempt to force natural or intellectual pursuits is essentially nonproductive]

76.

Very awkward.
Even now.
What's different?
Going up!

—Very awkward.
—Better than having to go fishing.

Who told you to think? I don't give you enough information to think.

[Hint: If you try to feel frightened, then you really won't feel frightened. That's what strength is, someone who can feel frightened]

83.

Heavy duty.
Never perfect.
No violence!
Just brutal.

—Heavy duty.
—It's like the nineteenth hole, right?

Are you looking for somebody? [Hostess at a fine restaurant]

[Hint: They're trying to undermine you - These attacks come from out of the blue, usually by very frustrated people]

87.

After all!
Just beginning.
I've arrived!
Everything's changing.

—I've arrived!
—Something nice.

Does it cost anything?

[Hint: Doing everything to avoid a Sore Subject, they're forcefully preoccupied with something else, making them seem convincing]

88.

No trouble.
It's treachery.
Nothing more.
If not ...

—No trouble.
—Just when you don't need it.