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> When a man explodes in anger over something seemingly insignificant, he may appear like just a jerk. But he could be anxious. What's in a name... Its amazing
by air7 7y ago
> When a man explodes in anger over something seemingly insignificant, he may appear like just a jerk. But he could be anxious.
What's in a name...
Its amazing the difference a title makes. Being "a jerk" is frowned upon, its "bad" and the jerk should know better. But when its "anxiety" its met with compassion and understanding. He needs help not a stern look.
Why do we feel that the jerk has agency over his actions but the anxious man doesn't?
If anything, I'd say it's the opposite: the poor titleless jerk has no option but to be like he is. The anxious one could seek treatment to reconfigure his behaviour.
This whole arbitrary divide between agency and fatalism pops up again and again. See nature/nurture, gayness, crime (compare poor vs richer perpetrators), insanity, acts committed under influence of drug etc etc.
It seems like society had to decide on the age old unanswerable question of free will, and it did, arbitrarily.
- username90 7y agoIt is the fundamental attribution error for the ingroup and the outgroup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_attribution_error https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_attribution_error
- jjeaff 7y agoIn one case, someone is being a jerk because they can't control their reactions due to their anxiety disorder. These people are likely remorseful for what they have said or done. A true jerk is someone who is being a jerk on purpose because they don't care about others. And they don't regret their actions because they think they are justified. Seems like an important distinction to me.
- air7 7y agoThe question then becomes: Does the "true jerk" have more control over his actions, or is he bound by his personality traits just as much as the "remorseful jerk"? Can we not say that the former can't control his reactions due to their "true jerk" disorder?
- deathwarmedover 7y ago"True jerk" got me thinking of https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/no-true-scotsman https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/no-true-scotsman Both are ultimately responsible for their behaviour, one perhaps has a clearer path to redemption?
- xenihn 7y ago>What's in a name... Its amazing the difference a title makes. Being "a jerk" is frowned upon, its "bad" and the jerk should know better. But when its "anxiety" its met with compassion and understanding. He needs help not a stern look. Typical Cluster B shifting of blame. It's not their fault. You made them do it. They just can't help themselves. Anxiety is a perfect cover.