Assholes: A Theory

[KamaAina]

This is an actual book, written by a philosophy professor (!) at UC Irvine.

http://www.amazon.com/Assholes-A-Theory-Aaron-James/dp/0385535651/ref=sr_1_1

His thesis is that what makes an asshole an asshole is a sense of overentitlement, and that assholes are so prevalent they're even degrading the capitalist system (!) through "asshole capitalism".

[polichick]

1. Very interesting - assholery is definitely on the rise!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. DU Rec

for philosophy

[bettyellen]

3. I think assholes are mildly to full on sociopathic...

We are all somewhere on the spectrum of compassionate / empathetic to selfish and uncaring. They are on the far other side from where liberals generally are.

[KamaAina]

10. The author places assholes on a spectrum

worse than jerks or schmucks, but not as bad as sociopaths or psychopaths.

[bettyellen]

12. Ha ha, sounds like an article after my own heart!

Thanks for posting, will read later!

[Warpy]

4. Part of it is the Dunning-Kruger effect

Dimwitted people have no clue that either they're dimwitted or that there is a huge body of real knowledge out there that they're not privy to, so they assume they know it all.

Arrogant + ignorant = asshole.

[pintobean]

5. and dangerous.

[Bigmack]

6. Read The Psychopath Test

by Jon Ronson. He pretty conclusively demonstrates that MANY, if not MOST corporate execs are, at the LEAST sociopaths, and more than a few are likely psychopaths. EXCELLENT, well researched read. Ms. Bigmack

[arcane1]

8. That was a great book, and was my first introduction to Jon Ronson.

And now I love him

[postulater]

7. I'm just waiting for some Republican to point out that most Assholes have brown skin.

[JBoy]

9. My working definition of an asshole:

One who demands that all social interactions occur on their terms.

[bettyellen]

13. I have DTMF over that issue, and am so glad I did.

[libdem4life]

11. An Asshole: "They think their po-po don't stink" Edited.

[Enthusiast]

14. This argument sounds plausible to me.