Scum

[rowyn]

"What are you talking about?" I asked the co-workers who were chatting near my cubicle.

The two women laughed. "Jerry* asked us a question, but he doesn't like our answer."

Jerry looked at me. "How many men would you say -- just in general, not specific ones you know -- are scum?"

I considered. "I dunno ... 5%?"

The other women giggled, while Jerry gestured to me. "See, there's an optimist."

"I said 50%," Michelle told me.

Lee offered, "65%."

I stared. "Really?"

"I'd say about the same for women," Michelle added. Lee's estimate on women was a bit lower, 50% or so.

"What about you, Jerry?" I asked him.

"I don't know. 30%? Hmmm. Maybe 2 in 10," he decided. "For both sexes."

*

I'm not sure if the wild variations in our estimates are because I'm generally kinder in evaluating people (it is awfully hard to make me feel like a person is actually bad or malign) or because they had a different idea of what was meant by scum. What about you -- how many people do you think are scum? And what qualifies a person as scum or not?

* No real names used here.

Comments

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

I think the term "scum" is just a derogatory word used in a moment of frustration, rather than a meaningful classification. I can't think of any statistical answer that I could give that would have any utility on any level I can think of.

[circuit-four.livejournal.com]

And this... It's pretty much a synonym of the word "stupid." When you cut someone off in traffic, it's an unfortunate passing lapse of judgement. When someone cuts you off in traffic, it's 'cause they're scum. When you take too long in a checkout line fumbling for your checkbook, it's because you're distracted. When anyone else does it, it's 'cause people are just plain stupid. It's a built-in neurological tendency and I really don't like it, especially when I catch myself doing it. -.-

[rowyn]

Mmmm. I hear "stupid" and "obnoxious" and so forth in that sort of context a lot. "Scum" -- in my experience -- requires a greater degree of perceived abuse. Not necessarily accurate then either, of course.