IJBM: the term "passive-aggressive" being overused and used incorrectly
The term means something pretty specific. It refers specifically to "indirect expression of hostility", to use Wikipedia's wording. This means:
1. "hostility" - hostile intent is needed.
2. "indirect" - the behavior must be something that takes a roundabout route to accomplishing a hostile objective when there is a direct route clearly available.
Except the internet doesn't use it this way. On the internet, passive-aggressive behavior means the same thing as complaining. Making new threads to complain about something? Passive-aggressive behavior. Gossipping about someone else for stress relief? Passive-aggressive behavior. Posting an unrelated complaint for unrelated reasons? Passive-aggressive behavior. Running into a problem and the posting a comment about the larger issue exemplified by that problem? Passive-aggressive behavior. Trying to resolve a situation without mentioning the flamebait parts of it? Passive-aggressive behavior.
Oh, also, there's the shittier synonym, "bitching". As if we didn't have enough gender-specific slurs already.
1. "hostility" - hostile intent is needed.
2. "indirect" - the behavior must be something that takes a roundabout route to accomplishing a hostile objective when there is a direct route clearly available.
Except the internet doesn't use it this way. On the internet, passive-aggressive behavior means the same thing as complaining. Making new threads to complain about something? Passive-aggressive behavior. Gossipping about someone else for stress relief? Passive-aggressive behavior. Posting an unrelated complaint for unrelated reasons? Passive-aggressive behavior. Running into a problem and the posting a comment about the larger issue exemplified by that problem? Passive-aggressive behavior. Trying to resolve a situation without mentioning the flamebait parts of it? Passive-aggressive behavior.
Oh, also, there's the shittier synonym, "bitching". As if we didn't have enough gender-specific slurs already.
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Comments
but I agree, this term is waaaaaaay overused.