Thursday, October 14, 2010

Passive-aggressive


Here's the definition of a passive-aggressive person:

Passive–aggressive behavior, a personality trait, is passive, sometimes obstructionist resistance to following through with expectations in interpersonal or occupational situations. It is a personality trait marked by a pervasive pattern of negative attitudes and passive, usually disavowed resistance in interpersonal or occupational situations.
It can manifest itself as learned helplessness, procrastination, stubbornness, resentment, sullenness, or deliberate/repeated failure to accomplish requested tasks for which one is (often explicitly) responsible.

So, do you know anyone like that?
I know a few folks like that and I always end up having problems with them.

You know the type. 
The one that says, "No, no, that's OK, I'll sit in the back." and then proceeds to complain of car sickness, leg cramps, etc.

Or the one that pretends NOT to read her email which has important info and directions (even though you know she is constantly on her Blackberry) about a meeting that she obviously doesn't want to make time for.

And here is what I feel like screaming at them,
JUST SAY YOU DON"T LIKE SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR!
or
JUST SAY YOU CAN"T MAKE THE MEETING!

Yeah, I want them to know that most of us see through the subterfuge/BS and that it is far more annoying to try to guess what is bothering them or what they are trying to avoid than hearing straight from them what their issue is. 
Tell it like it is.
Be up front.

Thanks for letting me vent.
And, please give me some examples of the passive/aggressive people in your life, it might make me feel better!
Tomorrow?
 Let's talk about adult mean girls. 
Because, leopards don't change their spots!



2 comments:

Kim said...

I always think my MIL is very passive aggressive, but everybody always makes excuses for her. And grown up mean girls...don't get me started. We have an entire church in our town where the women are mean girls. And we have one particular SS class in ours where one of the staff members said "they're like the tridelts of the church"....that made LMAO.

Anonymous said...

You need a crystal ball and to be a mind reader for a passive aggressive. You're lucky they are on the fringes of your life. Try being romantically involved with one. What a mess! LOL.