It is Wednesday, which means it is time once again to Choose and Defend. The question today comes straight from the life of yours truly. It will be no surprise to anyone to hear that people don't like to be told "no". Today, I am running a very popular program for the little kids. It is very simple, a brief storytime, trick or treat through the library, back for snacks and a little video. For some reason, this community goes crazy over it. I do the program twice and am able to allow 75 children (ages 2-6) into each program. We have been giving out tickets since Saturday, and since yesterday afternoon both programs have been full. You might be surprised if you could see how upset people get when they find out they won't be able to attend. Honestly, tempers flair. But there are certainly different styles of anger, frustration, and trying to get your way. And I thought I'd ask you how do you tend to react when you come up against something that angers or frustrates you? Do you get...
Aggressive
OR
Passive Aggressive
Some of you are probably pretty zen and don't delve into the murky waters of aggession. But another way to look at it is maybe...do you tend to be very direct? Or do you slide around the issue and hope for results? Choose and Defend! Because it is Wednesday and this is What Fresh Hell is This? !!! Thanks :)
12 comments:
I don't want to answer on the grounds of self incrimination, but that "passive aggressive" photo is amazing. It's also something I kinda sorta did once, so I guess there you have it.
Ha! I am most certainly of the passive aggressive ilk. Maybe even just passive. But if an issue is important to me I try to address it directly when I can emotionally handle it.
Really depends on who I'm dealing with, though I tend towards being more passive aggressive.
Passive aggressive. To a fault probably.
Oh dear, I'm in the minority. Way aggressive usually. Gets me into trouble sometimes, but I prefer being straightforward.
BTW... I've tried to post on other recent posts you've done but blogger wouldn't let me. Hopefully I have resolved that. But I was reading!
Hmm. As you know, I've been thinking about this issue. Of course, there is a third option of "assertive" which is best. I aim for that, but occasionally do things like curse someone who just cut me off when I'm driving. Still if I had to choose between the two choices here, I guess I'd go with passive-aggressive. Especially the clever kind in the photo.
James: haha! Did you really? I like it. (So you can probably guess my response too) One for Passive Aggressive
Silly: Sounds like you have a good handle on things :) Two for Passive Aggressive.
Oh...and you know my story about my work computer and your blog not getting along...I completely understand!
Silver: That's true too, there is the actual target factor. Three for Passive Aggressive.
3GK: Trust me, I've been strongly accused more than once :) Four for Passive Aggressive.
NoRegrets: Maybe in the minority, but not at all a bad thing! Direct is good! One for Aggressive.
Secret: I admire assertive, but seem to miss the mark most of the time. I did think that photo was a good example :) Five for Passive Aggressive.
Everyone: So as a sample group we have many more confessing to Passive Aggression than Aggression: 5-1. Don't know if this is a worldwide thing or if bloggers just tend towards not getting aggressive. Anyone else? Speak up!
True assertiveness is never hostile or aggressive - it's just calmly stating what you want and accepting the other's right to decline. But aggression - that is something people jump to all too quickly.
Secret: I went with Aggression this week because of what I'd been running across at work, so I certainly agree that people jump to it very quickly.
Oh, this one is easy. I was raised Irish CAtholic. I come from a long line of passive/aggressives. I try really hard to stop myself when I hear it spewing out of me, but I'm not always good at stopping that flow. Sigh.
Churlita: While mine doesn't stem from a religious or cultural upbringing, I can bring it too unfortunately. You make 6 (to 1) for Passive Aggressive :)
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