Jerk: noun
jerk /jərk/

Does it seem like humanity is more intent on selfishness than ever? And what do we make of all these dictators, internet trolls, and people who recline their airline coach seats or leave their shopping carts between cars? Is it a race to the bottom for us all? These are dark and lofty questions of humanity. Take heart, for all kindness is not lost. Turns out we’re far more Moana than Maleficent.

Hug a jerk; they don’t really live forever.

The second-greatest commandment from the Almighty is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s right up there with loving your enemies. Personally, I find it’s much easier to love my far-off enemies like Putin, Kim Jong-un, or the Kardashians than to love the guy I hold the door open for at Starbucks who then orders before me. For his entire office.

Is being a jerk an American privilege, like mass shootings, Costco, and lifted trucks? And are people really worse behaved than in previous times? Or are we comparing our current social interactions to It’s a Wonderful Life rather than, say, the Roman Empire? I’ll stop asking questions and start providing answers lest I become a…well, you know. But keep in mind that pejoratives exist solely to be hurled at societal cranks so they fall back in line.

I did considerable scholarly research on “why are people jerks” and similar derogatory search strings. Not just for........

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