Jerks and Bullies

Nobody likes jerks. Nobody thinks they're a jerk, though. They must be out there, though, or we wouldn't talk about how we don't like jerks.

On what will turn out to be a related note, I watched the fourth quarter of the NCAA football championship game. I wasn't going to watch it at all, but I got home and checked the score and it was close. It was a rematch of last year's championship game. In that one, Alabama beat Clemson. This time Clemson won at literally the last second. That is what I wanted, because it appears to me the Alabama coach doesn't seem to be the nicest guy in the world.

Want to see how respectful a coach is? Look at how he talks with a referee when a call doesn't go his way. Sometimes you can look at how he treats his players or his assistants, too but you can always tell it with how he treats the officials. A lot of coaches don't just plead their case. They get angry, irate, insulting, disrespectful, etc.

I don't remember that from the past. Bud Grant, Tom Landry, John Wooden might sometimes disagree officials, but they were never jerks about it.

Same thing with comedy. Johnny Carson monologues aren't like the monologues today. Today they just try to find someone to ridicule. Justin Beiber, a Kardashian, Donald Trump, Tim Tebow... Somehow celebrities and referees are considered fair game, but they really aren't. A big deal is made of how bullying is wrong, but that really is what this behavior is. Some of those targets I don't particularly care for either, but that is what bullying is all about - Taking those people you don't like and putting them down to others when they aren't there to defend themselves.

I can pretty much avoid jerks/bullies, but not always. I've had to work for a few. When they're over you in some kind of hierarchy, I guess they think that gives them a right to act like that. When those people treat you badly they must either think its motivational or that is just the way they are. First of all, I find it the opposite of motivational. I guess it is for some athletes. I just wouldn't play for a screaming coach. I've had to work with jerk bosses. Your choices are to put up with it or quit. It shouldn't be like that, but it is.

Secondly, maybe its just how they are. But if you can't control your temper, what are you doing over me in this hierarchy? People that can't control their emotions should be way down in this food chain.

Its bad enough when you have to deal with these people, but so much worse when its televised to the world. There really isn't much point in talking about how bullying is wrong when the people kids see on TV do it all the time.