Assholes.

Hey people, guess what?

There are assholes in the world. There just are. Always have been, always will be. And they’re everywhere. They’re going to cut you off in traffic and then give you the finger, they’re going to jump ahead of you in line, they’re going lie to your face and gossip about you behind your back, they’re going to make asinine remarks about your political party, your religion or your gender, they’re going to recklessly and anonymously leave dings in your car door, they’re going to say mean things about your mother, criticize your taste in art, insult the unique aspects of your lifestyle, and manipulate you to their benefit any way they can. There are assholes in the world and they WILL push your buttons.

Some people don’t even know they are assholes. But some of them do. Some people are assholes because they have mental health issues. But most of them are assholes by default; because they were raised by assholes, it is the only way they know how to be. And now nobody else will hang out with them except other assholes. Or asshole-enablers. As firmly entrenched as most assholes are in their comprehensive asshole subculture, there is little hope that they will change, much less contemplate the counterproductivity of their assholism.

Yes, there are assholes in the world, and there’s not a goddamn thing you can do about it. You can’t wish them away, you can’t cuss them away, you can’t argue them away and you can’t kill them off. And it wouldn’t matter if you did, because just like taking a bucket of water from the ocean, there is a constant and endless supply of assholes immediately moving in to fill the void.

You can’t control the fact that there are assholes in the world. The only thing you can control is the way you react to them. You can allow their assholishness to enrage you, to devour your time and attention and energy to the point where your adrenaline spikes and your blood pressure skyrockets and three hours after the encounter stress hormones continue to flood your system, taking a toll on both the quantity and the quality of your life while you are still ranting to anyone who will listen about your latest rendezvous with an asshole. (Frankly, a lot of assholes would get a real kick out of knowing that they have that level of control over you.) Or you can acknowledge the fact that your heretofore sublime world has collided with that of an asshole, handle the situation as efficiently as possible, and then let it go. Either way, odds are that the random assholes you encounter are going to go about their asshole business without giving their excursion into your irrelevant life a second thought.

One thing is for sure, though. People who are assholes are not happy people. They are, generally speaking, the end result of ongoing and overwhelming ignorance, fear, guilt, low self-esteem and loneliness. And given an educated choice, every asshole you encounter would undoubtedly rather be free of all the negativity fueling their assholism, and have your life instead.

Just a little something to ponder the next time you encounter an asshole.

:hi:

You are NOT an asshole!


:hug:

:*

Note my sig.

~Writer~

People do suck.

I have not yet learned if anything can or should be done about this and, if so, what.

Hello Ms. Writer. :hug:

Thanks for that brilliant explanation of snooker... I actually wouldn't mind trying it... although I'd seriously doubt I could find a snooker table in any of the bubba and college joints near me.

;)

;)

You don't find them in pubs and bars here, either. My brother and I go to a dedicated snooker club for that, although we don't actually go to play snooker - in addition to the snooker tables, they also have a lot of English and American pool tables. We prefer the American tables because they give a more enjoyable game.

:P

I'm afraid I need to go. I'm sitting here in my robe with wet hair. It's time to dry myself. Later!

:hi:

:*

or seems it, after the abuse a snooker table will put you through

I am not kidding.

I hope to transfer to another dept, but either way, I'm outa there

I refuse to deal with crazy people

she was the most vile, destructive human being I ever met. Unfortunately the company didn't catch onto her until after I left.

I'm so sorry that you had to deal with that.

:hug:

~Writer~

but she's managed to kiss enough booty of a few that she's being protected

:banghead:

Mine lasted in her job for several years by casting blame on other people, creating enemies of whom she complained bitterly to her supervisors, then finally by sleeping with her immediate supervisor. But the folks at national knew that she was smoke and mirrors and eventually that talk made its way back down the food chain. She was denied a few promotions until her fragile ego got the best of her and she switched companies.

Not too much you can do about that beyond ignoring them.


:hi:

And maybe something more to work with.

You ever think that maybe they're decent folks that play the asshole role on the reality show I call "Life"?

I thought this was a progressive website.

I'm an ASSHOLE, and I don't hate myself! Stop stereotyping me!!! :mad:

I needed this reminder. Especially the part about the blood pressure. You are so right... so, so, so, sooooo very right!

:loveya:

:yourock:

Keep that BP down gf, we need to keep the good ones around as long as possible.


:hug:

or something.

:P

That is how I try to go through life. It's not always easy though.

You're right, it's not always easy. But it's always easier than the alternative.


:hug:

Be it romantic,familial, or friendship. And to quote Neil Diamond "And once they have you, they know they really have you; nothing you can do or say......."

Sometimes the best you can do is try to contain the toxicity to its source, so it doesn't contaminate and destroy other lives.


:hug:

The thing about being responsible for our own reactions cannot be repeated too often.

:loveya: warrior woman! :*

:bounce:


My idol! My mentor! My goddess!


:loveya:


:7


:hi:

:rofl: :spray:

Nice to see you, gf. :hug: :hug:

There's exactly one for every man, woman, boy, girl, cow, chipmonk, kitty, puppy, and ocelot that walks the planet.

Some are simply determined to walk with theirs out and up for the world to admire.

:evilgrin:

Some people take pride in being assholes. Other people are mortified when they discover that something they did made them look like an asshole.

That was a wonderful read and oh so true!
My best friend of almost 20+ years is one of them.
When he is in a bad mood gawd forbid that you be in a good one.
I spend allot of time at work with my ipod on..

And Hello Lama Lady..It is a joy to see you posting :hug:

And you are fortunate to have an iPod. That worked out pretty well. :)


:hi:

Consider this a standing ovation.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Hopefully it will help somebody to make it through the holidays (when assholes are a bit more prevalent) a little easier.


:hi:

:hi:

:thumbsup:

:hi:

I'm dealing with anger issues with a neighbor who nearly succeeded in starving her cat to death. I rescued the little fellow through great personal expense and he is living with a loving family now, but I probably need to print this out and read it on a daily basis in dealing with her.

Being cut off in traffic is not that big a deal, that goes away, but this stays.

It sure sounds like that neighbor has mental health issues and cannot fully appreciate the consequences of her actions, nor the necessity and helpfulness of yours. You're right, in that case being angry at her is pointless and will drain you of energy better spent in positive ways.

Sorry you have to deal with her, but bravo to you for rescuing the little kitty! You did the right thing in a difficult situation; I hope you can see fit to let her negativity go and feel nothing but pride in your actions and joy in the result.

:hug: to you and kitty!

Especially when dealing with conservative Republicans. :patriot:

It is definitely important to make the distinction between people whose actions are merely(?) rude and obnoxious, and those who purposely invest time and energy to improve their own lives better at the expense of other's lives. That is an entirely different breed of asshole. And you are correct, sometimes one needs to fight fire with fire.


:hi:

:(

It's the way you keep cutting me off in traffic, criticizing my taste in art and recklessly leaving dings in my car door...


:hi:

I have one.

:)

Thanks, glad you liked it!

but what about dickheads? Seriously though, excellent post.

You're on your own with that one, friend.


;)


Thanks.


:hi:

I'm so pleased you've been thinking about me!!!

:hug:

:hi:

Not. an. asshole. YOU!!!


How you been, dear heart?


:hug:


:hi:

All told, all's good. I lost my job in October, so I decided to start my own business. I am now a Professional Limited Liability Corporation!

:woohoo:

My daughter's telling me what to do every day now so a load has been lifted from my shoulders - what with no longer have to figure out where to sit and stand and whether to read a book or not.

Hopefully, you'll be able to put this asshole thing behind you and move on soon. :hide:

:loveya:

Best of luck! And it's true what they say, when you work for yourself you get to make your own schedule and you only have to put in half-days. ... Any twelve hours you want. Ha ha.


Your daughter,

:rofl:


How lucky you are to have your own handler! That frees you up to just be the star Daddy. And I know you are.


:loveya:

:loveya:


I had some assholes piss me off in traffic this morning, and I got snippy about it in front of my daughter (we were on our way to school). I explained that I wasn't mad at her and that I was angry cause people were being inconsiderate but that happens all the time so I was just angry for a bit but now I'm over it. By the time I finished explaining why I was upset, I wasn't upset anymore.

I enjoyed that little moment and hope I sent my daughter a good message about how to handle anger and frustration. We'll see.

You never know if the person who cut you off is an asshole in general, or is driving in a panic on the way to the hospital hoping to make it in time to say goodbye to a loved one. Or are usually safe drivers who would never dream of cutting someone off, but did so by accident because the traffic timing was just bad and you happened to be in their blind spot and would be (or are) absolutely mortified to know that they nearly caused an accident.

I've been that latter asshole a few times in my life. :blush:


And wow, you handled the experience fabulously with your daughter! What a great learning experience for her. If I were a mom I would want to be just like you!


:loveya:

asshole :P

J/K

good points

assholes aren't happy people at all.

:hug:

How you been?

doing okay

a little under the weather with a cold

but

otherwise, plugging along :hug:

:hi:

Have you tried Erkaltungswurst +C?


It seems to be the newest thing for really bad colds.

Love you. :hug:

:loveya:

Love you back, man. Tonnes.


:loveya:

:*

:hug:

Breaks down some of the ways assholes develop.

Most are takers - "Garden snail", "Jaguar", "Whirlwild".

I've always thought that I should have a "Plan B" in place for situations in which I'm not likely to get away with strangling them.


;)

I posted this a while back...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1228278&mesg_id=1228913

My thoughts exactly, but written better than I could have done it.


:patriot:

:thumbsup:

:)