I suspect jackassery is almost completely determined by environment.

My gut response is that it’s about the same cross-culturally. But then when you compare extreme examples – is it really possible that Texas and Japan have the same percentage of assholes?

Jackassery is mostly in the eye of the beholder, I think. There must be some people out there who think Donald Trump just be tellin’ like it is.

Some context, maybe?

by JH—Jan 30, 07:10 PM

My sense is environment, too, and influence: those who are prone to it find jackasses who teach them the trade. I sometimes imagine that, way back in history, there is a patron saint of jackasses, even an originary one—were more of us descended from Israel, I’d put the blame squarely on Joseph. But I take your point culturally speaking: maybe non-Western cultures have a way of handling the jackasses that gives them humility? Perhaps that is how the Japanese came to work so much.

I must protest your claim about the Donald: at some point, either when you gain too much power or too much money or both, you lose your ability to be a jackass and become simply an asshole. His fans, on the other hand…

by greg—Jan 30, 08:24 PM