Hi @berniesander
if believing that helps you feel in control, that is perfect.
However if we prefer to drop into the reality for a while:
You can say that you are controlling what i say. But by same token I must be controlling your words and actions as well.
It is funny to me that people do not see the truth of the matter. We literally shape each other.
We are, at our root, Self Organizing Systems. Meaning, we adapt and change according to our environment. This is the basic mechanism which allows all social conditioning to work whether that conditioning be positive or negative.
This is a soft environment. And more and more people are starting to understand how it works. They are seeing and feeling the control mechanisms at their disposal. And your flag attacks have become a badge of honor for people.
I grew up with a whole tribe of people with your specific Psychological malady.