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Jun. 4th, 2007 09:25 pmCould someone please explain to me what is so wrong with being passive-aggressive? I was just reading this post and the comments, and it seemed like an extraordinarily high number of people dislike characters just because they're passive-aggressive. Now, I know that since it was a discussion of active and re-active characters, it's probably kind of skewed, but still.
Do people really view passive-aggressive people that poorly? I mean, I don't know about y'all, but the majority of people I know are passive-aggressive, and in a few cases it is extreme and annoying as a result. And yes, I know that it's silly to not go right out and say what you mean, but sometimes, you can't. The big uproar about Strikethrough recently shows that quite clearly--you can't always say what you want or what you mean. It can get you into trouble, or at the least, make things awkward. And clearly, you can't be passive-aggressive all the time, because that is when it gets annoying and extreme. And there is a thin line between passive-aggressiveness and manipulation sometimes, and I think that's really the problem.
But come on, if all of the characters and people you know or hear about were aggressive-aggressive and said what they meant and what they wanted to--well, think how boring plays and movies and books would be--not to mention soap operas and those melodramas everyone is so fond of these days!
Of course, seeing as I myself am pretty damn passive-aggressive and would prefer to let a situation stew and see where it goes rather than take control andfuck it all up mess about with things, I may perhaps be a little prejudiced. ;D
Do people really view passive-aggressive people that poorly? I mean, I don't know about y'all, but the majority of people I know are passive-aggressive, and in a few cases it is extreme and annoying as a result. And yes, I know that it's silly to not go right out and say what you mean, but sometimes, you can't. The big uproar about Strikethrough recently shows that quite clearly--you can't always say what you want or what you mean. It can get you into trouble, or at the least, make things awkward. And clearly, you can't be passive-aggressive all the time, because that is when it gets annoying and extreme. And there is a thin line between passive-aggressiveness and manipulation sometimes, and I think that's really the problem.
But come on, if all of the characters and people you know or hear about were aggressive-aggressive and said what they meant and what they wanted to--well, think how boring plays and movies and books would be--not to mention soap operas and those melodramas everyone is so fond of these days!
Of course, seeing as I myself am pretty damn passive-aggressive and would prefer to let a situation stew and see where it goes rather than take control and
