So there's this phenomenon--pretty much everyone is familiar with it, particularly here on OS--in which a purportedly normal, functional member of society sets himself (it's almost always a man) a blog, with the seeming sole purpose of representing as a huge, gaping, ignorant asshole.
While he’s by no means the worst offender, I offer as an excellent example of the “Asshole” phenomenon this guy. At first, his posts seem normal enough. He offers up his views on Islam and Peggy Noonan, suggests that open-toed sandals are a fashion “don’t” for women with big feet or long bony toes (yeah, okay, I didn’t really get that one either) and other sundry normal, bloggie type styff. And then he just goes completely off the rails.
Another example is this guy. For months and months, his posts are normal enough—he’s writing in his area of expertise and presumably attempting to drum up some business—and then, inexplicably, he rides right off the reservation.
Which begs the question, Why? What is it about airing one’s darkest side—the nastiest, most childish, most invective-hurling animus—that’s so irresistible to a certain kind of person? And how do they differ from the rest of us?
At least for me, it’s an interesting puzzle. Who are these seething little bullies? And how do they comport themselves in “real life?” Seriously, what makes them tick? I’m genuinely asking, cause I sort of find them fascinating. How about you?
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Nevertheless, I'm not sure why some folks want to be aggressively provocative. Maybe it is a pathological need to play the devil's advocate, or to incite furor.
At any rate, I don't really know about what motivates these behaviors, I just try to stay away from them.
Oh, BTW, it's good to see you back, Leigh!
But I still wonder about the desire to be such a screaming moron, right there in front of God and everybody.
Is it some itch that has to get scratched? Is it like the compulsion to wave your bits at schoolgirls? Are these people suffering from the "inner asshole yearning to break free," and if so, how does it manifest in their day to day lives?
I really wish an asshole would drop by to explain himself.
And OEs, I'd happily add a woman to my rogues gallery. Point one out, and she's in.
The internet with it's unregulated and boundarylessness, doesn't have a culture of self censureship, that conversation or being in a workplace, family, school, or house of worship does. There are no norms of behavior.
E-mail is an example of where people press the send button, before even checking where their message is likely to be sent. I think there are hundreds of examples where e-mail gets sent to people who were not the intended recipient.
So back to the posters who you so colorfully describe in your headline. OS truly is OPEN. There are no moderators except ourselves for our own blogs. People who lack the intellectual or behavioral govenor which would give them pause before sending an inflammatory are going click publish without a second thought.
Perhaps some of these folks are just 'unencumbered by the thought process.'
OEs, I get that part too--there's no one on the Internet to tell these people they really shouldn't, or punch them in the virtual face.
I guess what I'm saying is, I've never experienced the desire to vent my inner idiot so publicly. I don't think I have an inner idiot that idiotic, frankly. So I'm just curious about those who do.
Like, was one of those guys just waiting on pins and needles for the opportunity to call someone a fat, aging cunt cow? For no particular reason?
As I posted above, it's not the unpopular opinion that qualifies one as an "Internet Asshole," it's the bizarre, aggressive name-calling and deliberate attempts to offend, belittle or antagonize.
And they're not 17-year-old anti-social kids in their parents basements either. They are (at least they appear to be) regular, grown up people.
Whatever. Maybe this is just my own little brainworm.
The anonymity of the internet allows us to project our most sanctimonious selves. It also encourages us to to bring out our inner Andy Rooney or Ann Coulter even if we think that we are far more "pithy" than what we really are. And perhaps we should all peek in the mirror occasionally just for a reality check.
I am relatively new to OS...which safely means I am not commenting as a resident ass, or a newly coined resident ass.
Recently I commented on a post in which the blogger was slinging invective after invective in the comments. In response I took his comments and inserted names of those he held in esteem and posted them back at him. Hoping to show him the absurd nature of his comments.
Went back today, all my comments had been removed. I thought aha I will get you! But then I looked closer: he had removed his sordid jibes that I had responded to.
I am not totattly sure why but maybe sometimes an asshole wipes.
MFey
REALLY? REALLY?
I hope another reader does send you some more Exemplars of Assholeness, and that you subsequently update your Post, because they are (for all their assholeness) kinda funny ... in an OMFG-can-this-guy-be-serious? way. (Like Glenn Beck.)
BTW: I bet you could put together a highly-read Post if you aggregated offensive crazypants comments made by Es-of-A and then artistically "poetry-cized" them. (I know there must be a word for that, but I don't know it.) Or made them into Haikus. Or set them to song.
(I imagine the popularity of the Post, however, would likely not compensate for the prerequisite harm to your intelligence.)
Chicago, "aging cunt cow" is my own ingenious invention. Feel free to use it with abandon.
It's particularly effective when you've got a burning desire to go fucking with your superiors and all that. :-)
There are some rules. Never insult a well intentioned argument unless the argument itself is an insult to intelligence. Points are scored on creativity and relevance. Never insult the person unless they do so first, and then it's an option. Insult the argument, even if the line between argument and personal is a bit fuzzy.
Moderation is important, though.
So, ya wanna fight about it?
Huh?
Huh?
rated.
Moderation is for pansies.
Your turn!
Yeah, I know that's simplistic, but wow, so are those two, errmm, posters you used as examples. And just for the record, "aging cunt cow" has to be one of the best descriptive insults ever.
It's as good an explanation as any, I guess.
Welcome back!
And some, yes, hide their emotional problems for a certain length of time until they just all spill out for everyone to see. Who knows? Over time, the majority of people with anger issues get shunned because, you know, who likes to hang with people like that?
True--anonimity (did I spell that right) can bring out the worst in a body and we've known it for decades. Yet I have to admit some surprise that there are so many contenders.
And actually, please do point me to some of the female assholes. Perhaps this is sexist, but there's a different kind of assholery among women, at least in my experience.
I just need some more samples for my data base.
Bleh. Well, fine then. I'm off to the sewers. But keep the bleach handy. I'll need a good swig when I get back.
I'll go Republican, no! LIBERTARIAN...
Start passing out religious tracts...
Pose naked on the cover of Guns & Ammo...
Go on Hannity as a "Conservative Blogger"...
Then I'll start REALLY telling you people what I think of you.
I think I'll start with 1_Irritated_Mother.
(thumbified for awakening my inner Internet Asshole)
Maybe once you cross that line, there's just no reversing it. If you back down, even a little, you have lost, so the only solution is to up the ante.
Or else you've just gone batshit crazy.
I'm going to pour myself something and play some loud music before my date arrives, rather than think too much about what you've said.
The unexamined life, sometimes, is the only one worth living.
http://open.salon.com/blog/j_l_davis/2009/04/14/os_comments_and_ratings_and_deleting_-_oh_my
Here's the text of his comment:
"You are a hypocrite.
To get on some ignorant fuck's good side, you posted a negative comment on my post.
Do not fuck with your betters. Fuck him and fuck you."
(I happened upon this accidentally. As far as I can tell, this has nothing to do with the writer's Post.)
I am steering clear of that dude. It would appear that he has some pretty severe problems. Or that he is deliberately douche-ing out on people just because he thinks it's funny (because -- REALLY -- the "your betters" thing again?? can he be for real??).
(BTW, I'm going to listen to your song once I get home from work.)
;~)
But then perhaps I look like someone who's ever been dumped, so what do I know? (I'm sure my betters will tell me.)
Yes, there are some strange people here... Hopefully I'm not too strange but I can get going. I tend to give it better than I get...
But it's life.
The same thing works, in reverse, on dating sites. People get very 'close' emotionally while chatting and it's all a fantasy.
Philos777 wrote >>
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You are silly, small, pathetic, hate filled, and need an enemy to validate yourself. Ok you win. The RNC....every one of the millions of them, all of them, the leaders, the minions, the followers, every last one of them, their children, their pets, heck they even drive racist cars & live in racist houses. They eat racist food they sleep in racist beds, they watch racist tv, they read racist books. Hell, if they touch something it is ruined because it's racist. And anyone who tries to reason with them will become a racist too.
If, by some oblique chance, this isn't true...even slightly....where do you draw the line?
You are a sad individual.
gonzoid wrote >>
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Well, at least we agree on something. You have no grasp of the reality that the RNC operates in. A black man won as president. Well, that's almost as bad as Clinton winning in 2000.
The RNC/GOP is racist and bigoted and pathetic.
You think that the GOP isn't racist because if Steele? The black man under Rush Limbaugh? Yeah...
Live in your own world...
Philos777 wrote >>
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Do you se how absolutely hilarious the statement is "admit the GOP is racist". That is as foolish as saying "all black people are lazy". You simplistic broadstroke approah disqualifies you from real dialogue.
gonzoid wrote >>
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You are a small person. Do what you wish. The wingnut branch of the GOP is a circus sideshow. If pointing that out hurts then quit the circus. You want witty? Stop defending the indefensible and admit that the GOP is racist. And for the record, I thought I HAD found a 12-year old to spar with.
Philos777 wrote >>
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I know you will attack this too, but that is your twisted and hate filled style. Do not comment on my posts unless you can be civil. Intelligent discourse can be cutting and witty. I will continiue to delete if you can't make a point that isn't just an attack. If you want to cry like a baby about it, read the other comments and notice there is plenty of conflict that is issue related.
You are a barbarian and I have no use for wasting my time reading your juvenile pablum. Say something pertinant worth reading or go find some 12 year old to spar with.
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(Concerning Obama's bow to the Saudi King. I pointed out that George W Bush had held the King's and kissed him on the lips had on multiple instances. Note that Bush being a 'sissy' is not a crime but Obama just bowing to the king is)
Bowing is a little different than holding another persons hand as for guidance and direction and a show of solidarity. As for "puckering up"???
You are f'd up calling GW an invader. History will be extremely kind and show him as a true liberator. Even Obama admitted that in so many words to the troops this week.
Although I don't like your inferences, your point has been made. I hope this is just a willingness on the part of Obama to show respect. I also hope it was for the Saudi people and not the ruling family. Just because the Saudi's have oil (which in turn makes them otherworldly rich) doesn't necessarily command respect. Is this another example of “change we can believe in”?
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If you recognize an asshole, then you recognize that possibility in yourself.
Who cares? Be happy and carry on! There are certainly enough other people to read.
"Picking your nose while driving is acceptable, eating contents of same is not. Same applies to anonymous diatribes and trolls."