This essentially sums up my entire life philosophy.
No matter what, just don't be a cunt (i.e., unjustifiably obnoxious and spiteful to others).
Now you may be thinking, there must be an exception to this rule... because, as I have said in the past:
- I do not respect those who have no respect for others;
- I am intolerant of intolerance; and
- I believe violence begets violence.
But please don't misinterpret this as me saying that you 'are allowed to be a cunt under certain circumstances'; there is no exception to the 'Don't Be a Cunt!' rule.
Because, even if someone is disrespectful, rude, mean, aggressive, or an utter fucking cunt themselves, we should always aim to handle things appropriately and calmly.
Not being a cunt simply means we ought to:
- not cause unnecessary harm to those around us;
- reduce suffering when we are in a position to do so;
- take care of those who cannot care for themselves (this usually requires a moral obligation);
- try to help others and add value to their lives whenever practicably possible; and
- be compassionate, empathetic, kind, and treat others how we would like others to treat us.
A quick caveat to the whole 'treat others how we would like others to treat us' rule - we need to be aware of the variation in the personal interests of others. In other words, just because we might appreciate something doesn't necessarily mean another person will as well. This rule is subject to, at the very least, common decency.
The 'Don't Be a Cunt!' rule applies to us as we go about our daily lives regarding our interaction with others (and, by extension, the natural world, and other sentient beings).
If someone is disrespectful, rude, mean, aggressive, or an utter fucking cunt, we must be assertive and use this as an educational moment concerning what we will and will not tolerate.
Suppose we let others walk all over us by being a piece of shit to us. In that case, this indicates to that person (and others) that what they have done is acceptable, and that they may proceed to do it again in the future.
Standing up for ourselves doesn't mean we're 'being a cunt', even if it appears this way. In fact, it is usually us who judge ourselves for calling people out on their bullshit. 'Was I disrespectful; did I overreact; was I the one being a cunt?'.
No matter what, if someone is being a piece of shit, they absolutely deserve to be put in their place.
The goal here is to have fewer people walking around being unjustifiably obnoxious, thinking they can get their own way by treating everyone like garbage.
Think about it this way - there would be no reason for you to 'act unfavourably' towards someone if they are not being a cunt to you or other individuals.
This post was inspired by the following video:
P.S., it's also a good idea to work on self-awareness and empathy, attempting to first understand someone who is being unpleasant before launching a diatribe against them. Also, never physically attack someone unless it is in self-defence.
This has been a lesson on ‘How to Lose Friends & Upset People’.
See you on the next one 😉
