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The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

scottbarrykaufman.com

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Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#41

Post by gitanovic »

peakaboo wrote: post #21
kmlevitt wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What I could see immediately in their eyes is the knowledge that they can just do that. There are no repercussions. There is nothing anybody can do. This works. The bully just lashing out because of his own issues is a myth. These two things are not mutually exclusive though. If you want to take your frustrations out on somebody else, you do it on people you can take them out on, not people you can’t. And yeah, mos…

I think that age was horrible, when you had no power to choose your own tribe of people. You got grouped together with people you didn't choose yourself, and what's worse, those people were kids who sometimes has no empathy whatsoever. It really was the worst time in my life personally and I often felt like I just wanted to end my life. Luckily I came through, and life as an adult is a lot easier. We still get groupe…

for you adult age is easier, maybe for bullies it is harder :)

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#42

Post by ballenf »

peakaboo wrote: post #21
kmlevitt wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What I could see immediately in their eyes is the knowledge that they can just do that. There are no repercussions. There is nothing anybody can do. This works. The bully just lashing out because of his own issues is a myth. These two things are not mutually exclusive though. If you want to take your frustrations out on somebody else, you do it on people you can take them out on, not people you can’t. And yeah, mos…

I think that age was horrible, when you had no power to choose your own tribe of people. You got grouped together with people you didn't choose yourself, and what's worse, those people were kids who sometimes has no empathy whatsoever. It really was the worst time in my life personally and I often felt like I just wanted to end my life. Luckily I came through, and life as an adult is a lot easier. We still get groupe…

Pretty similar youth for me. But one question I ask is whether my adulthood is easier because of the pain I experienced as a youth. Whether I can handle harder emotional situations now as a result. Not a reason to allow bullying, just that I feel fortunate to have been able to learn a lot of tough lessons as a child instead of as an adult.

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#43

Post by 0des »

tonyedgecombe wrote: post #28

I didn't downvote but I do tire of seeing archive links under every post. If people wanted them then all they need is a bookmarklet.

You don't need to be like that. Be more tired of the reddit-isms creeping in to and derailing gradually more discussions.

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#44

Post by altcognito »

Thiez wrote: post #36
altcognito wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a strong argument that cooperative populations are more effective/efficient than non-cooperative. Structures and processes that place a high value on all people and their many quirks instead of conformity to an arbitrary leader are likely to do better in most situations than ones that don’t.

> There is a strong argument that cooperative populations are more effective/efficient than non-cooperative. Which probably means being at the top of the social hierarchy in such a population is even more valuable.

Valuable how? I realize that altruism is an unpopular concept, but it exists nature and works quite well when civilization is placed under the greatest survival pressures.

Selfishness is a luxury humans indulge in because those pressures are quite weak in modern days.

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#45

Post by 8jef »

Thiez wrote: post #36
altcognito wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a strong argument that cooperative populations are more effective/efficient than non-cooperative. Structures and processes that place a high value on all people and their many quirks instead of conformity to an arbitrary leader are likely to do better in most situations than ones that don’t.

> There is a strong argument that cooperative populations are more effective/efficient than non-cooperative. Which probably means being at the top of the social hierarchy in such a population is even more valuable.

Being at the top of the social hierarchy in a cooperative environment is not necessarily valuable, probably not even pleasurable, at all. Because true cooperation can either exist without a top, when the experience is mostly p2p, or with a benevolent top painstakingly at the service of the entire community.

So if your commentary meant valuable as in dedicated to the point that the individuals at the top become shit sponges for everyone else and do die as saints or martyrs, then yes, it is very valuable.

That being said, it depends on where you put value in life.

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#46

Post by heresie-dabord »

hedberg10 wrote: post #10

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assholes:_A_Theory Today on the train I saw some bullies. Kids wouldn't let the quieter kid sit with them. What I could see immediately in their eyes is the knowledge that they can just do that. There are no repercussions. There is nothing anybody can do. This works. The bully just lashing out because of his own issues is a myth. This is just how humans work and certain societies ar…

> There is a social hierarchy

There is a power structure, and there are social hierarchies that ally themselves with the power structure. These social hierachies vary in formality and even in practical knowledge. Some are nothing but fads, quackery, and supersition.

And within these social hierarchies, there are people who seek rank and the preservation of the behaviours that make their badges of prestige important.

These are the bullies, the fanatics, the assholes.

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#47

Post by drcongo »

xtiansimon wrote: post #39

I originally wanted to respond to say fashioning explanations of offensive language is just tongue-n-cheek and near click bait at best, and confusing at worst. But if you have to write about offensive language, while ignoring its ambiguity and offensiveness, and taking as given the term is a legitimate type, and therefore legitimate topic of discussion, then this article is not the worst. I belive such language is be…

Nice classism.

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#48

Post by pestatije »

pgt wrote: post #8

I, for one, was hoping for an anatomical analysis of the evolution of the universal sphincter. This article is about assholes in life/the workplace.

Yes, "anatomy" is clearly not the right word there. It could have been worse though: "AAA - Assholes' Anatomy Analized"

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#49

Post by Gravityloss »

makach wrote: post #12
solarmist wrote: post #2

I love the term asshole circumplex.

Indeed. Comedy is usually frowned upon in here, but this article posted is golden. We're all some type of asshole. Definitively a dark eye opener for me.

That was actually not the point of the article. You can be an extrovert and an asshole at the same time. Or someone who is quiet and still an asshole.

Re: The Anatomy of Assholes (2020)

#50

Post by tonyedgecombe »

0des wrote: post #43
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #28

I didn't downvote but I do tire of seeing archive links under every post. If people wanted them then all they need is a bookmarklet.

You don't need to be like that. Be more tired of the reddit-isms creeping in to and derailing gradually more discussions.

I'm even more tired of people comparing this place to Reddit when it's nothing like it.
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