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These are the most passive-aggressive responses

By Bo Geschiere | #!30Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200+02:000230#30Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200+02:00-9Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam202330 13am30am-30Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200+02:009Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam2023302023Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200309309amWednesday=9#!30Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam9#09-13-2023#!30Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200+02:000230#/30Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200+02:00-9Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam202330#!30Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:30:02 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam9#

Sometimes I can really laugh hard at those passive-aggressive comments. Especially when I see it happening to others. Not so much to myself, of course, but then I keep in mind that it says more about the person opposite me than about myself. All those sneaky reactions of theirs do have some underlying meaning. And how do you even recognize that? You will undoubtedly have heard the following comments this week and we can immediately categorize them under passive aggression. Here they come.

‘I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed’
Denying anger is the most classic form of passive-aggressive behavior. Because they are indeed just angry. And there’s a good chance you’ll hear it quite often.

‘But I thought you knew this’
They love ignorance in others. This way, they defend themselves by not acting, but secretly they enjoy the problems and suffering of others immensely.

‘You did well for someone at your level’
If someone has ever told you: ‘Don’t worry, there are plenty of people who are a good match for you’ or ‘Your nose is big, but no one pays attention to that’, then you probably know how much emotion such a comment can bring.

‘I didn’t know you wanted it done right away’
Although most people do tend to procrastinate, passive-aggressive people see procrastination as a way to frustrate others and avoid certain tasks without having to refuse them directly.

‘You just want everything to be perfect’
And when procrastination is no longer an option, they carry it out in a deliberately inefficient manner. When confronted, they accuse the other of perfectionism.

‘It’s fine. Just leave it.’
Passive-aggressive behavior arises from someone’s belief that expressing anger only makes things worse. That’s why they prefer to use phrases like ‘fine’ and ‘whatever’ to make you feel a bit bad indirectly.

‘I was just joking, you know’
Sarcasm is also a commonly used trick to justify their hostile comments. But if you bite back, you immediately get this comment thrown at you so they can get out of the victim role.

‘Why are you getting angry again?’
The passive-aggressive person is a master at staying calm when others explode. In fact, they take pleasure in challenging you to laugh at your ‘exaggerated’ reaction.

Source: PsychologyToday