The Rise & Rise Of The ‘Asshole’

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This article contains expletives. Your mom won't like you reading it. But you'll learn about a new philosophical construct.

I’m internet famous in India because a politician is being falsely accused of plagiarizing me. It’s kind of funny, but right-wing assholes seem to be similar in every country.

On 2 July 2019, Martin Longman–a web editor with the Washington Monthly–put out a tweet in support of Mahua Moitra, a newly elected Member of Parliament in India who was being falsely accused of plagiarizing his article. A few days later, he wrote a scathing article in which he called the journalist who falsely accused Mahua as a ‘cheap-shot boot-licking masquerade for journalism.’ He goes on to add:

I know my mother’s not proud of my choice of words there, and I apologize to her for that. I really do. But I stand by the meaning of what I said.

Martin’s use of the word ‘asshole’ is interesting. It’s unapologetic in its intent, but offers a justification of the use of the word. His classification–‘right-wing asshole’–also points to a particular type of behaviour.

But who is an ‘asshole’? Other than the rear orifice, are there any defining characteristics that classify someone as an ‘asshole’? Or, is it just another cuss word that relieves the person of frustration?



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