Why Should I Feel Bad for Being a Jerk?(A Rant)

[TheGreatCoolEnergy]

This is a simple question I hope somebody can answer for me: Why should I feel bad for being a jerk/dick/asshole/douche/etc.

Seriously. I fail to see the incentive to continue tolerating and even being nice to people who genuinely piss me off.

All my life, for as long as I can remember, I have tried to do the right thing, to think before I spoke, to put others feelings before my own. I have tried and tried and tried some more to avoid conflict, to resolve problems, and to give a little in the name of "the greater good". "Be the bigger man" they say, and I do try.

But lately, I don't know why I should. I mean seriously. What incentive is there for me to do good? Why should I go up to the person I don't like and tell them to fuck off? Why shouldn't I beat the shit out of the next piece of shit to chirp me? Why shouldn't I be an asshole?

Don't tell me it isn't effective. I watch assholes succeed around me everyday; they get the girls, they get the trophies, they yell at me and say stuff behind my back. And I just stay quiet, promising myself that some day I will be prosperous and they will be some strung out addict.

When is some day coming? I've been waiting fucking 16 years for "some day". 9/10 times, not being an asshole proves to be equally or less useless than being an asshole, yet that stupid conscious in my head goes "No no no, that's not the right thing to do, don't be like that". I just don't understand it. I know I'm setting myself up for bad situations, or putting my back to a wall, or adding stress to my life, yet I can't seem to stop. It pisses me off to no end.

So I guess my question is "What do I stand to gain from doing the right thing. I mean really, are there any benefits?"

Note: I am sorry if this sounds like regular bitchy teenager stuff, but I am really frustrated.

 

[Sneaky-Pie]

Try it and see if you're happier.

You just have your conscience to deal with while you do it though.

 

[Reaver3]

in my opinion, nothing much changes if you switched from being a "nice guy" to being a "raging asshole..." the main thing that changes is the "how many people like you" count.

the best way to deal with it and still get the popular vote is being as sarcastic/sardonic as you possible can and sprinkle in a snide remark here and there but with a smile and a chuckle

people are stupid enough to think you are a funny guy and will love you.

it works for me

 

[Dark Knifer]

I can tell your not naturally a jerk, so don't try to be one. Those who succeed at being a jerk are the ones who have been one their whole lives so don't try to imitate it or it'll turn out wrong. Believe me, I tried it. It is really unfair and you can say you have waited long enough, but it does turn out better eventually. If you just try to be a jerk you'll be buggering this up and whole-heatedly regret it. I know if doesn't help console much now, but it's the best I have to offer.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Just because assholes succeed in high school does not mean that you should act like an asshole. You should at least wait until you get a job before making these kinds of life changes. I am in the same situation as you, but does that mean I am going to act like a ponce just to try and get more people to like me? No way. Fuck other people. If the asshole is popular with the high school masses, then fuck the masses. Be above them.

 

[xdom125x]

It is generally useful to have more allies than enemies. Only be a jerk in retaliation(sp?) to other jerks.

 

[Verex]

This usually leads down the path of 'emo'ism. Dark Knifer is right though. You don't seem naturally inclined to be a dick. Plus, the world really doesn't need another jerk.

 

[Nouw]

Karma. 'Nuff said.

Don't revolve your life around your enemies getting what they deserve, because it may never come! Focus on the better things of life and when you least suspect it:

"Man dies after getting chased by a bull."

Don't worry, they are fucked. Just not now, not tomorrow or next week. Just some time later...

It may be tempting to be an asshole, but DON'T do it! You're no better than the people you hated for so long.

 

[NeonOranges]

In my life I have been a sarcastic asshole who utters death threats to just about everything and I?ve been fired from eight out of eleven jobs. The only thing being, the jobs I?ve been fired from were utter crap and I can?t really feel all that horrible about being an asshole to people who were considerably irritating. As it stands I find that maintaining a balance between, say not being arrested and or beaten to a pulp and yet still expressing my rather scathing opinions is at about a five.

Allow me to explain my reasoning, if being an asshole were rated on a scale, four is generally considered the socially acceptable number, but you can push that up to a five and still not be socially ostracised like a leper. The numbers are varied, one being that person who doesn?t hold open doors or say ?please? and ten being that pompous snow humping ski junkie who flaunts their wealth in front of everyone when they talk about how their family just bought them a small African child to suck their dick.

So as long as you keep to somewhere in the middle, you can still be an asshole, just so long as you?re not the biggest asshole in the room, you?re still viewed as delightful colour commentary. At least that?s how it?s worked out for me, but then again, I have tits.

 

[Polaris19]

You just have to know that deep down. you know that what your doing is the right thing.

I rarely get notice for things that I do but thats okay with me. I don't do it because I want something out of it. I do it because I know that it's the only way I won't regret my actions.

Really the benefits are more often (sorry about how bad this sounds) for your own soul. It's up to you to act the way you want and treat others how you see fit. But I think that being a nice person doesn't have to be a bad thing.

I don't really know what it is you want out of being nice. But I can tell you that there a lot of people I know who view others who act like jerks in an extremely negative way. You can make a lot of people upset like that.

You don't have to be Mr. Goody-Two Shoes. You can tell others what you think if they really bother you. but I've found that I am happier when I treat others with respect. Even if they aren't people I like.

And if your conscious is telling you something, you should probably listen.

 

[DMonkey]

Stand up for yourself. Be a jerk to those who are jerks to you. Earn some self respect, and damage some bully egos.

My friend, I was in the exact same position as you are in right now at your age. I got bullied, and was always taught to turn the other cheek. Wanna know what happened? Got my ass beat by the same people each time. School? No help. Friends? Just as timid as I was. Parents? Only got the beatings harder the next day. Until I asked myself the same question as you are asking in this thread.

I won some fights, I lost some fights. But I made sure the ones I lost they knew I was not worth the trouble.

When you finally man up, show some self respect, and stand up for yourself, then you will get those things you think only assholes get, but without resorting to the same dickish behavior.

Also what helps is having wit. You can combat much of the bullshit with a well timed come back.

And if all else fails, its frikkin' high school, dude. In 10 years you won't give a shit.

 

[TheAceTheOne]

Nah. I'm pretty much a smartass too. I am also antisocial and usually have my music to the point where I can't hear about the responses (which prevents me from caring), so my advice might not help you much.

 

[Angerwing]

And this is why people think teenage gamers are anti-social weirdos.

Being nice in high school is different to being nice in the real world. Professional courtesy goes a long way. Jerks and assholes in the real world are only successful because they're good at their jobs, not because they're dicks. I don't want to get into the whole 'nice guy' issue, because frankly I can do without the added blood pressure I get every time I have to describe the situation. Protip: Don't be a douche, it doesn't work.

 

[e2density]

I am a jerk, and I wholeheartedly agree. I can't help that I'm a jerk. It's in my nature to dislike people, and it's been ingrained in me for a while, since I used to have anger management issues that I grew out of. Now I just don't care for anyone, but mainly lesser people. Dumber people....etc.

 

[fletch_talon]

If you are being a jerk to people who legitimately piss you of for valid reasons (valid of course being subjective making this a hard criteria to fill) then there is nothing wrong. In fact its not technically being a jerk if you are justified in your response, its being human.

However, If your reacting in an aggressive or "jerkish" manner towards people who have done little to nothing truly wrong, then the problem lies on your end. The reason you should feel bad for being a jerk is because it generally punishes others for your own inadequacies (impatience, intolerance etc.)

There are jerks out there, its unfortunate, but there's little to be done about it. What we can do (those of us who don't like jerks that is) is not make the problem worse. If you don't act like a jerk, then they have less reason to act similarly to the next person they meet, and so on, until it comes back to you.

You'll catch more flies with honey.
What goes around comes around.
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

 

[Risingblade]

People often times treat you better if you're nice to them. Unless of course they are jerks/assholes/douches just like you.

 

[TheGreatCoolEnergy]

Karma. 'Nuff said.

Karma indeed. Karma is weird; I always seem to get punished for my wrong doings(which I understand; after all, it's karma) yet I never see that happen to others. For a brief example, I liked the people I sat by in physics, but I talked too much, so the seating got re arranged, and now I don't like where I am sitting. But I understand the balance: I talked to much and disrupted a lesson, and now I have nobody to talk to.

However, the fuck heads on the other side of the room, who are always talking at top volume, and constantly yelling profanities, never get moved around the room. What the fuck?

the best way to deal with it and still get the popular vote is being as sarcastic/sardonic as you possible can and sprinkle in a snide remark here and there but with a smile and a chuckle

You just described my best friend, kinda funny I found.

I don't really know what it is you want out of being nice. But I can tell you that there a lot of people I know who view others who act like jerks in an extremely negative way. You can make a lot of people upset like that.

I guess I just expect my time to be a bit easier. I mean, if I go out of my way to not be an asshole, for some strange reason, I believe people would do the same for me. This is not how it is.

 

[Canid117]

Go for it be a dick. After your 5th punch to the face then maybe you will figure it out.