Willravel

I was watching a classic Henry Rollins video in which he said he wants to be a pain in 'life's ass.
It was a funny video, but it got me thinking about being a pain in the ass myself.

I can be a relentless pain in the ass. Seriously, ask the staff. I can be merciless, and I can rub it in your face by denying it up and down all the while rallying support of other people when I do it. The thing is, being a pain in the ass doesn't always have to be negative. It doesn't just have to be about trolling or vengeance, it can be about doing what little you can to be a thorn in the side of people who are genuinely doing bad shit. Think of Code Pink, fearlessly standing up right in the faces of the liars and murderers involved in the Iraq war, interrupting speeches and public events with shouts and signs and chanting. Think of some kid pulling out his camera phone and sticking it right in the faces of cops that are doing stuff they shouldn't be doing. Think of wikileaks. Think of that smug kid in catechism class that asks his teacher about molestation. Think of any number of people who go out of their way to be an itch that can't be scratched away.

Anyway, I complain about stuff all the time, about politics, society, religion, and any number of other cases of human suffering, exploitation, and hypocrisy, but I never seem to make it beyond that point. It wouldn't be too hard to put being a nuisance to good use.

So I'd like to ask you folks: are you a pain in the ass for justice? Do you troll the living shit out of people who are asking for it?

noodle

I am an incredible pain in the ass.
I excel at it. And I've cultivated this skill over the years.
Rarely pure negativity and typically with the goal of improving someone's something.
But... sometimes just to drive someone nuts if they are pissing me off.
I try not to be overtly hurtful, but it happens.
People are no longer my friends over things that I've said in being a pain in the ass.
But that's their choice... and sometimes mine.
I'm not typically a troll though. If I've got something to say, there's a purpose or reason behind it. People are often surprised when they try to "call me out" at what's behind my pain-in-the-ass-ness. And I've received apologies when I probably should be the one handing them out. But I'm okay with that, too.
Like Henry, I'm incredibly cynical, but I also put the energy in to see both sides, which wears on my cynicism. I'd rather explain individual things than to accept a blanket reason for WHY?

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Willravel

Any fun examples?

Charlatan

Be a pain in the ass. Just don't be passive aggressive about. Wear your ass pain status proudly.

And always be polite.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Cynthetiq

There's a difference being assertive and being an asshole. One can be assertive and be labeled a pain in the ass and not be an asshole. As Charlie says, be polite.

I know that I'm quite assertive when it comes to making things happen when others cannot or will not move forward. I'm always polite about it.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Sheepy

Watched more of Henry Rollins videos - he sure has a lot to say on everything. A lot of really good things at that. But i find something about it odd, his whole game is like... selling out his opinions. And that magical thing happens once you start to like him or what he has to say on one subject, suddenly you find it really easy to agree everything he says and you start nodding your head with points he raises you would normally be more thoughtful about. the most craziest of ideas and thoughts can be passed if you can say it with humor and emotion.

Remixer

I always loved the idea and implementation of being a pain in the ass to those who act arbitrarily and/or excessively against others for no legitimate reason.

zenda

Yes. Indeed I am. Am. It was never a career choice - if bad stuff happened in my vicinity, I couldn't not intervene. My only choice is to try to learn to do it with maximum impact and minimum damage.

I remain polite; also, I do not condescend - I judge it to be a subset of impoliteness - for I wish to retain clarity of the moral high-ground I am claiming. Strategically, the other is more likely to change when who they are is being honoured, or, put less nicey-nicely, I've given them less with which to dig their heels in, and less with which to distract themselves by justifiably taking exception. Also, the more they are kept, courteously, in the context of the issues than of personal feelings, the more it is they who are, and are seen to be, either facing issues directly and moving forward, or trying to wiggle.

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ZENDA

Remixer

Fully agreed with the first paragraph.

Second paragraph, I guess it depends on what one wants to achieve in the context of the situation. From a strategic point of view, I think working against a culprit in a way he/she never realizes who it was and continuously exert pressure from a variety of angles is the best method.

noodle

Sure. At work, people are less than tech savvy in my department. However, they typically "decide" that they have the right answer to a problem. And will give a blanket response to everyone. Today, I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to explain an issue we were having to my boss. She kept insisting that she she was right that I purposefully took the discussion exceptionally high over her head to get her to shut up and get us a meeting with the IT department. And, I did it in front of a select few other people so that she wouldn't be able to "blame" me, which she does quite often.

I will call out people who make almost any kind of blanket negative statement about a group of people, a profession, etc. and not force per se, but require an open explanation of why they feel that way if they choose to continue conversing with me. If they've got a point, so be it. If not, typically they're quite embarrassed. "Oh, I see... so every ______ person you've come across does ______?" I try not to be outright rude in social situations, but I will bring it up later if it bothers me enough. I work with people who have a number of disabilities, and damn skippy part of my point in life is to educate people and stand up for the ones who can't for themselves or aren't present to defend or represent themselves.

And I totally fuck with my coworkers. There's a Quote Wall.
For the stupid things people say.
And believe me... they know immediately by the look on my face or the self-realization what is going up on that wall. But, overall, it's made them think before speaking... most of the time.

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Willravel

That was a lot of fun to read, noodle.

AbelG

That's funny.