The great philosopher Hypocrates (pronounced Hip-ahh-kru-teez) once said, "It's okay for an ass to be an ass, because he's just being himself."

Okay, so there is no official philosopher named Hypocrates, but you probably know many would-be Hypocrates personally.

Have you ever heard someone excuse another's reprehensible and crude manners simply because "he's just being himself"? And yet, if others behaved in similar fashion, they wouldn't get the same treatment, benefit of the doubt or automatic excusisms. Or maybe, you yourself have uttered the "he's just being himself" excuse for someone.

Ever met a hypocrite? Look yourself in the mirror. You may already be a hypocrite.

There are many types of hypocrites, and many ways to be one, but in this rant, I'm focusing on the ones who lamely excuse someone being an ass because "he's just being himself."

That's not a reasonable excuse, nor a justification of such behavior.

It doesn't matter if you're Russell Crowe,

    "Jenny" - the next door neighbor with the perfect family,

        "Adrian" -  the clerk with the rotten upbringing,

            a celebrity who grew up with a silver spoon in his/her mouth,

                the self-made millionaire/billionaire tycoon,

                    Joe Blow down the street

                            or even......you.

You being you. Him being himself. Her being herself. None of that justifies, excuses nor gives someone the right to be a prick, an ass, a pompous, self-satisfied dick.

And if you're the one excusing the person in such a way, you'd better learn to excuse everyone all the time for whatever they may or may not do...simply because we're each "just being ourselves." Otherwise, look yourself in the mirror and make your own acquaintance. You've just met...a hypocrite.

Don't think you're a hypocrite for doing that? Think again!

Don't want to be a hypocrite and yet you do make those "excuses" for certain people? Then, as I said, learn to excuse everyone else for all their idiosyncrasies, as merely "being themselves," or quit making excuses for the asshats you think or pretend to know.

If "Shawn" acts an ass, and you think it's okay because he's "just being himself," well then I guess you'd better excuse the serial rapist, serial murderer and serial robber...for starters. After all, it's a pattern of behavior for them, too. They're used to it. It's a habit. It's "them." So, they must be "being themselves," and using that same logic you've used for "Shawn." Well, then...it must be okay, as the serial rapists, murderers and robbers are also just "being themselves." Guess you'd better set them free! Can't have them locked up when what they're doing can't be wrong if it's just them "being themselves"!

Have you been victimized by one of them or maybe been the victim of verbal or physical abuse? Don't worry. It's okay. The abuser was just "being himself/herself," There's nothing wrong with him or her. It's obviously you that needs to change or must somehow be "in the wrong" or must've provoked the person, right? It's your fault. You deserved it. At least, hypocritically speaking, it's how any Hypocrates would view it.

Your boss is having a rough year and fires you, even though you did nothing wrong, except you happened to say "good morning" with "that tone." It must be okay, cuz he/she was just being himself/herself.

Yeah, that's right, some guy or gal being an ass/asshat more often than not is clearly acceptable when it's just "him being himself" or "her being herself." After all, how do you think he or she got that way? Honestly?

I highly doubt it. We do have responsibilities in our own actions, deeds, words and behaviors. We do have choices. Families, friends, acquaintances, strangers on the street or online, circumstances, economics, geographics, etc., all play a part in our development as humans or humanoids, in some cases. =p Not all things are by choice or design, but genetics or learned/cultivated and premeditated behaviors do not give any one person the right to be an ass, whereas the rest of the populace...should "know better," apologize or not be that way because them being themselves is not an excuse for anything they may or may not do...and the rest of the populace should also give the one person or few persons you excuse for "being themselves" a wide berth because they should have carte blanche to do as they please, at least...according to you and their other enablers.

Given enough time and enough hypocrites blindly excusing them in such a way, guess what? You've just grown the problem and inflamed it. You're as much an enabler as is a victim of repeated abuses, returning time and again to a bad relationship "forgiving" the abuser yet knowing deep inside that nothing has changed...and the abuses will go on. You're as much an enabler as the one saying "just one drink" won't harm that alcoholic friend, significant other or family member. And so you say nothing...or make excuses for their behavior. Don't fool yourself. You ARE an enabler, a coward and a fool for letting the person/persons' manners and means go by as if it's no big deal.

It is a big deal. You've been made a fool in more ways than you realize. Do you really think the person wouldn't be an ass to you given the chance? Or if he/she didn't know it was you? Or if he/she knows you're wussy enough not to take issue or wussy enough not to speak out and hold him/her accountable for his/her behaviors?

Don't be that hypocrite...that Hypocrates. Don't allow that "friend," that stranger or that obvious asshole play you that way. You don't have to be weak. You don't have to take it, or make others feel they should just accept it, being that it's just "him being himself."

You'd be surprised. Sometimes, all it takes is one small voice speaking up before others join you and make the person take responsibility for their actions, or make them think twice the next time they feel like being an ass just because they can.

Then again, sometimes when it's a "name" or well-known, well-connected person, you may be the only or one of the few voices, but in the end...you have your pride and dignity, knowing you stood up for yourself, someone else and/or faced the fire-breathing demon and lived to tell the tale.

Before you read this, I'm sure you never heard of the "great" philosopher Hypocrates. There's a reason. Though there are many hypocrites and many hypocritical philosophers...being a follower or disciple to one is neither impressive nor brag-worthy, though some may try to brag about it anyway.

No one person has any more right to be an ass because of who he/she is, versus who anyone else is.

And if you're the ass so many excuse in such a way, grow up. Unless you're still two years old, there's no real excuse for those behaviors or temper tantrums...especially if they've lasted 5, 10, 20 or more years. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but we're not all that gullible or weak. Some of us know your games and power-plays. You get off on belittling others you feel are "lesser" than you. You get off on thinking that slams or prick-ish retorts make you somehow more cool and more respected.

If that's how you gain respect from others, I feel sorry for you and for the idiots that think that type of behavior makes you someone to look up to. Just because you may not have been an ass directly to many who excuse your behaviors for "you being you," doesn't mean you won't turn on them, too, given the right motivation, mood or lighting. One wrong word and they could witness the whiplash you'll give yourself when you turn on them.

Maybe you're the ass being an ass, "you being you," and you're sitting there smiling to yourself as you read all this thinking it's all BS. Go ahead. Smile now. Some day, you will experience the flip-side. Unfortunately, it'll probably be years or decades from now, when none of your excuse-makers or victims will be around to witness or experience it.

May the wrath and vengeance of justice be swift and the blade be dull, so as to inflict more pain as it slowly sinks in...and may you finally get what's coming to you. May you finally feel the flip-side as the tables are turned on you and you've managed to alienate some of the former excuse-makers --- who only sit idly by on the sidelines and watch, munching on popcorn, drinking soda and stepping on your toes, thinking you don't feel a thing, because...you don't. You're simply "you being you."

Have an ass day, hypocrites! As for the rest of you...have a nice day!

|   Like this? Check out more Fragments on... Relationships, Society and Infrastructure   |