Craig Ferguson's Intriguing Joke: Does Every Group Have at Least One Asshole?

In The No Asshole Rule, I make a tentative argument that it might be better to have one token asshole in a group (rather than none) to show others how NOT to behave -- a suggestion supported by some behavioral science research, especially studies on littering that show people are less likely litter into a setting that has one piece of garbage than none at all (apparently because the one bad example makes the norm against littering  more vivid).  Frankly, I was not sure about the wisdom of this argument then, and am even am less sure of now.  The reason I am less sure now (although I do have examples where a single token asshole was used by colleagues to remind themselves how not to behave) is that negative emotions and behaviors pack such a big wallop and are so contagious that the speed at which the negativity can spread from the token asshole to everyone else means this is can be a dangerous practice.

This all sets the stage for an old joke.  I think I first heard it from Craig Ferguson, the late night talk show host:

Every group has an asshole. If you look around and don't see one, that means it is you.

I think that is as good an asshole joke as I have heard.   Perhaps it is funny because it is true -- it is consistent with research showing that we humans are remarkably oblivious to our flaws.  In particular, this  joke is instructive for bosses because power is so toxic and so many bosses are so oblivious to their asshole ways.

Comments

[David Hinde]

Like the joke :-)

[Greg]

Any organization that would knowingly take on a token, be it asshole, whitey, woman, et. al. must be seriously toxic and insecure. I should hope a well run organization would either work to make the member productive or let them go.

Really, I just can not imagine being part of a group that would laugh at somebody behind their back every day...wait, I can. I did do stuff like that in elementary school and am ashamed when I look back.