Comments on: Sudden Asshole Syndrome

By: iamjoecollector

iamjoecollector — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:45:31 +0000

“PL: Take him on. They crumble when confronted. Coolly, calmly, civilly… but stop him before it gets worse. Once you allow one the slightest upper hand they run wild with it.”
Sometimes the situation just doesn’t work out because the structure that you work in allows this type of behavior. Any attempt to confront the individual is met with sanction. I do generally agree with your premise on how to deal with this situation.
PL: I understand your point, but once you demonstrate that you’re not going to be a shrinking violet, the line in the sand is drawn. People respect and want to retain an employee who politely, but curtly holds his or her ground. And conversely, they’ll run all over someone who doesn’t.

By: CumDumpster

CumDumpster — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:35:06 +0000

eee! I love your nuggies-
PL: Thanks.

By: Hank Hill

Hank Hill — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:42:34 +0000

It’s even worse than that- It’s a “she.”
PL: Charm her. Exploit the sexual tension.
Well, unless she’s hideous. In which case, God be with you, and you’ve all my sympathies.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:06:50 +0000

I saw this on corporate structures: http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-or-the-office-according-to-the-office/
It’s rather simpleminded using a fictional show as a genuine allegory for corporate hierarchies, but I think your SAS sufferer is one of those clueless middle management types. They’re the slightly less clueless ones that realize how dead-end their lives are, how they’re just insulation between those that can go further in life and those that do the work and live outside the office. They see how pointless it is beyond the paycheck, and they take their frustrations out on those below them, simple malevolence. It’s not just that he’s insignificant, it’s also that he can’t fix himself and be anything better. He’s stuck being upper management’s chump and just wants a punching bag to make himself feel better or more powerful. Others handle this problem by lying to themselves and buying “Best Boss in the World” mugs for themselves. Others use chemicals or amoral behaviour.
The Malevolent Chump, there’s your species name.
PL: Otherwise known as a “Tool.”

By: Hank Hill

Hank Hill — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:47:07 +0000

I bought your book right when it came out, and I’d hoped to never experience this phenomenon.
9 months later my boss quit, and they hired someone who acutely suffers from this affliction. It’s like you said- I wish they were just a dick. I can handle a dick, because I’m a dick. We’re all dicks, at least sometimes.
But this breed of shithead is totally awful.
PL: Take him on. They crumble when confronted. Coolly, calmly, civilly… but stop him before it gets worse. Once you allow one the slightest upper hand they run wild with it.