I hear people say "passive aggressive" all the time

[Creeg]

What the fuck does that mean?

 

[RobFunk]

It's when you have a real crap ass negative attitude and try to slowly drag everyone along with you in the process.

 

[ProPokerPlayer]

Usually means the person talking is a complete moron and is trying to use words that have no meaning like they know what it means but you dont....... So expect to find this phrase used several times in future Obama speeches....

 

[Creeg]

It's when you have a real crap ass negative attitude and try to slowly drag everyone along with you in the process.

Is that really what it means? Why not just say "he is too negative" instead of saying he is "passive aggressive"?

 

[RobFunk]

Is that really what it means? Why not just say "he is too negative" instead of saying he is "passive aggressive"?

Creeg, it's more methodical though.

here is a wiki entry on it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive-aggressive_behavior

"obstructionist resistance to following through with expectations" does say it pretty good, IMO

 

[roadreeler57]

Is that really what it means? Why not just say "he is too negative" instead of saying he is "passive aggressive"?

Passive aggressive is probably the "polite" politically incorrect term invented by some moron something like pattycake.

 

[Creeg]

Creeg, it's more methodical though.

here is a wiki entry on it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive-aggressive_behavior

"obstructionist resistance to following through with expectations" does say it pretty good, IMO

maybe an example would help. Got one?

 

[RobFunk]

maybe an example would help. Got one?

Sure. Right in the wiki entry.

"For example a worker asked to organize a meeting might happily agree, but will then take so long on each task in the process and offer excuses such as calls not being returned or that the computer is too slow, that things aren't ready when the meeting is due to start. A colleague is forced to hurriedly complete the task, or the meeting is postponed."

You see in the example the person is procrastinating or screwing up on purpose to make everyone else miserable. Passive aggression. Nasty attitude, methodically carried out.

 

[Creeg]

Sure. Right in the wiki entry.

"For example a worker asked to organize a meeting might happily agree, but will then take so long on each task in the process and offer excuses such as calls not being returned or that the computer is too slow, that things aren't ready when the meeting is due to start. A colleague is forced to hurriedly complete the task, or the meeting is postponed."

You see in the example the person is procrastinating or screwing up on purpose to make everyone else miserable. Passive aggression. Nasty attitude, methodically carried out.

so, a better name for this sort of behavior would be "asshole" or "all dick and no balls". those are easier to understand than "passive aggressive".

 

[festeringZit]

Sigh, none of these examples is answering his question.

It refers to someone who avoids direct confrontation
(hence the "passive" part) but still engages in "pain-in-the-ass"
behavior.

For example:

You have an employee that you ask to do a task, and the employee
agrees to do the task, but then either doesn't do it at all, sulks
and complains, does a shitty job...

 

[festeringZit]

Looks like Rob mostly answered the question... but the key is that
the person avoids direct confrontation, but directs the aggressive
behavior in non-confrontational forms.

 

[Creeg]

Looks like Rob mostly answered the question... but the key is that
the person avoids direct confrontation, but directs the aggressive
behavior in non-confrontational forms.

that makes sense. I think I might be passive aggressive when it comes to my mother-in-law.

 

[rodomonte]

It means someone is trying to make you feel guilty so you will do something they want you to do. Females have a natural ability to act this way.

 

[$tinky]

When someone says "Well, it must be nice just to go shopping and buy whatever you want and not even look at the price tag" to someone with money this is an example of being passive aggressive.

 

[quantumleap]

"Lumbergh's gonna have me work on Saturday. I can tell already. I'm gonna end up doin' it, because I'm a big pu$$y... which is why I work at Initech to begin with."

-Peter Gibbons in "Office Space"

Someone who doesn't want to do a task but doesn't stick up for themselves by arguing not to do it.