Who is/was the biggest jerk in your life? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

42 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I don't need actual names. But the context by which you know them should be included. This must be someone you have met or see regularly. Celebs/political people you dont like are not on the table, unless you've met and spent time with them.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

There are a few people who have acted like jerks towards me in the past, but I don't know what those people were dealing with in their lives during that time so I'm not going to dismiss them entirely as a person because of it. Them acting that way is more about them than it's about me anyway. Some people just can't help themselves. I don't want to be around these people but I also don't blame them for it as if they could choose to be otherwise.

[-] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

So you're in the camp of bad people don't exist inherently? I've talked to people who hold that opinion. I don't agree but I'm glad there is that kind of optimism out there.

[-] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 1 points 3 weeks ago

It's not so much that I don't think bad people exist - I just don't believe in them authoring that bad behaviour and then being personally responsible for it as if they could've acted otherwise. I think free will is an illusion - we're victims of our genes and environment. I view "bad people" the way I view a grizzly bear wandering around a neighbourhood: it's a problem that needs to be dealt with but I don't blame the bear for being dangerous as if it could choose not to be. With violent criminals this might mean locking them up, but not as punishment - just to protect others. They're broken people and it's not their fault. If I was in their place I'd act the same way.

This all applies to good people as well btw.

[-] Return_of_Chippy@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Ah you're a Robert Sapolsky person. That's a way to look at the world, not one I agree with but I don't think its necessarily harmful.

this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2026

31 points (94.3% liked)

Ask Lemmy

40361 readers

1031 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Rules: (interactive)

1) Be nice and; have fun

Doxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, toxicity and dog-whistling are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them

2) All posts must end with a '?'

This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?

3) No spam

Please do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.

4) NSFW is okay, within reason

Just remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].

5) This is not a support community.

It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.

6) No US Politics.

Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !uspolitics@lemmy.world

7) No Hit-and-Run questions.

Please don't delete your post for no apparent reason. If you plan on deleting a question later, say so in the post, or if you feel that you have a good reason to remove it, message a mod beforehand. It's not fair to the ones who took their time to answer, and it's not in the spirit of the community.

Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.