How Not to Be a Whiny Little Bitch
And what to do when you have to deal with one
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Bitch used to be an innocent word that distinguished a female canine from a male canine, or dog. It became, however, a loaded term that denoted ill temper or nastiness in women.
Bitch is a word often used to put women in their place. It’s used to insult someone, usually a woman, for being too assertive or for refusing to accept someone’s (usually a man’s) bad treatment.
But I’m using it in its more midcentury sense of a whiny, complaining person who makes other people responsible for his or her life’s problems, or someone who is bitchy, or easily inspired to begin complaining.
We’ve all dealt with this person. Nowadays, if the person is female, she might be referred to as a Karen. A man might be called a bitch in an ironic way, which is really, when you think about it, a form of reverse sexism.
But I digress.
At any rate, here are some rules for avoiding bitchiness in all of its unpleasant forms. To dramatize my rules, I will use a fictional character named Marvin who is based on a real person. He is the whiniest, bitchiest, most annoying person I have ever dealt with whom I didn’t also hate. I actually liked many things about him, but the effort to be his friend turned out to be too great.
After I cut Marvin out of my life, I realized that his obliviousness in social situations, while extreme, plays out some familiar patterns I see with people in my life who could be far less annoying if they gained a little self-awareness.
His behavior also reminded me of myself in my younger, less conscious days.
I have tried, not always successfully, to be better. Here is what I have learned.
Some key rules for avoiding bitchiness and whininess
If you follow these general rules, you will be more likeable and people will not fantasize about dropping you off at a shelter so they never have to deal with you again.
The key to all of these rules is self awareness. When you see yourself engaging in these behaviours (and we all do, from time to time), step back and try to “overhear” yourself…
