Posted by shar on May 20, 2003, at 21:42:51
In reply to Re: What is passive aggression?, posted by coral on May 19, 2003, at 6:55:21
Yes, an excellent and wonderfully concise description and definition. I think the last part was what I was really thinking about...expressing anger in a passive aggressive way as in the evening gown example you gave.
John doesn't want to mow the lawn. He agrees to mow it on Tuesday. So, he's unhappy at 'having' to mow it. Therefore, he mows it Friday and finishes up 30 minutes after the dry cleaner closes.
That's so beautiful.
I still wonder, though, isn't there a way to express anger ...oh, I know, VERBALLY being passive aggressive? Maybe something like I'm ticked at Mommie Dearest, don't want to go help her clean her house, but I say I will, and then come up with something nasty to say to her that could be interpreted as hostile, but isn't worded that way. Like, maybe, "I KNOW you need a LOT of help with your house." which implies she isn't a good housekeeper, of course, but would be hard to prove that's what I meant....?
Shar
poster:shar
thread:227551
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030517/msgs/227976.html