Bullying and being passive-aggresive

[phorsenuf]

Do you feel they are essentially the same?

 

[beck0321]

I don't know, but they're definitely both symptoms of the a**hole syndrome.


Honestly though, I think the passive aggressiveness would depend on the context. I know what you're talking about though, since I have been the victim of it many times.

 

[shirleyb]

I think I'd rather deal with a bully. At least they are up front about it.

 

[tasha99]

Not even remotely. A bully can be aggressive or passive aggressive. Being a bully is what you do, aggressiveness, assertiveness, or passive-aggressiveness is how you do it. I think you can be passive aggressive without being a bully at all, though it's a pain in the you know what to be around someone who makes that their style of communicating.

 

[Holly]

Passive aggression is the most annoying form of bullying.

 

[Ceila]

I think that people who are passive-aggressive are often bullies (and always manipulative), but not all bullies are passive-aggressive.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Not even remotely. A bully can be aggressive or passive aggressive. Being a bully is what you do, aggressiveness, assertiveness, or passive-aggressiveness is how you do it. I think you can be passive aggressive without being a bully at all, though it's a pain in the you know what to be around someone who makes that their style of communicating.

I agree

 

[phorsenuf]

Psst. I was really just goofing around with this thread.
But I suppose it could be an interesting discussion.

 

[wtccheermom]

Nope

 

[Ceila]

Psst. I was really just goofing around with this thread.
But I suppose it could be an interesting discussion.

I wonder if this is the first time here that a goofy thread has gone off-topic by being serious? Isn't it usually the other way around??

 

[LuvOrlando]

Passive aggressive is a very particular manifestation of a personality disorder, which is a mental illness. It's more than mere thinly veiled hostility but people use term to describe it anyway. Saying people who disagree are mentally ill is one of the meanest forms of bullying I can imagine, to be honest. It not only dehumanizes the person with whom one is in conflict but it also dehumanizes the people who actually suffer from the disorder.

I'm not a big fan of assigning mental illness to people who simply disagree with me and are forced to veil it due to forums which demand civility. In general, I don't think mental illness is ever funny on any level, but that's just me.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't think that it's the same thing at all. There can be many reasons for being passive-aggressive, not just bullying. Both are annoying though.

 

[RitaE]

I think Passive-Aggressive Behavior and Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder are two different things.

 

[Scurvy]

Passive aggressive is a very particular manifestation of a personality disorder, which is a mental illness. It's more than mere thinly veiled hostility but people use term to describe it anyway. Saying people who disagree are mentally ill is one of the meanest forms of bullying I can imagine, to be honest. It not only dehumanizes the person with whom one is in conflict but it also dehumanizes the people who actually suffer from the disorder.

I'm not a big fan of assigning mental illness to people who simply disagree with me and are forced to veil it due to forums which demand civility. In general, I don't think mental illness is ever funny on any level, but that's just me.

I think Passive-Aggressive Behavior and Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder are two different things.

Definitely! The term Passive-Aggressive is typically used in reference to a specific type of behavior, not a type of behavioral disorder. If you were using the term "Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder", then you would be referring to a mental illness. It's like the difference between saying someone is obsessed with something and saying they have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. There are similarities, but they aren't the same thing.

 

[brockash]

Not even remotely. A bully can be aggressive or passive aggressive. Being a bully is what you do, aggressiveness, assertiveness, or passive-aggressiveness is how you do it. I think you can be passive aggressive without being a bully at all, though it's a pain in the you know what to be around someone who makes that their style of communicating.

ITA. I don't think they're the same at all. I think someone that is a bully can also be somewhat passive-aggressive, but I don't know any ppl. that I consider passive-aggressive to be blunt enough and aggressive enough to be what I would consider a traditional bully.

 

[Magpie]

Passive aggressive is a very particular manifestation of a personality disorder, which is a mental illness. It's more than mere thinly veiled hostility but people use term to describe it anyway. Saying people who disagree are mentally ill is one of the meanest forms of bullying I can imagine, to be honest. It not only dehumanizes the person with whom one is in conflict but it also dehumanizes the people who actually suffer from the disorder.

I'm not a big fan of assigning mental illness to people who simply disagree with me and are forced to veil it due to forums which demand civility. In general, I don't think mental illness is ever funny on any level, but that's just me.

You wouldn't be a fan of "Stand Up for Mental Health" then.

http://www.standupformentalhealth.com/videoclips.shtml

However, I think these folks are hilarious, and I'm proud to support them.

I believe anything can be funny, if you just look at it from the right (or most inappropriate) angle. And your funny bone might just save your life (if not your sanity).

As for the OP - I think bullying and PA behavior are two different things. Mind you, I'm still not a hundred percent sure what bullying IS - at least where message boards and adults are concerned.

 

[phorsenuf]

I wonder if kids that were bullies grow up to be passive aggressive adults.

 

[Imzadi]

I wonder if kids that were bullies grow up to be passive aggressive adults.

Bullies aren't usually passive. They are usually directly aggressive.

Some people who exhibit passive aggressive behaviors often play the innocent victims when they are anything but innocent or a victim.

Kind of like pretending on another thread they don't know why they are the person being talked about on that passive aggressive thread.


Just kidding!

 

[phorsenuf]

Bullies aren't usually passive. They are usually directly aggressive.

Some people who exhibit passive aggressive behaviors often play the innocent victims when they are anything but innocent or a victim.

Kind of like pretending on another thread they don't know why they are the person being talked about on that passive aggressive thread.


Just kidding!

Nope, that's being totally clueless.

 

[mouseforcemom]

IDK. I do know the one place I see more and more people pulling the passive aggressive crap is Facebook. Sheesh, just come out and say it, name a name, lol. No need to post some weird cryptic thing then bask in the glow of a million "You alright hon?" posts. Bleh. Just makes me want to slap people into adulthood.