# Just what in the world is....?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 4, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353 "2003-04-04T01:52:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Drex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@Drex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drex)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/1 "2003-04-04T01:52:07Z")

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Could someone please, _please_ tell me exactly what an “asshat” is? It’s got to be one of the single most headscratchingly incomprehensible insult I’ve ever heard. I beeseech upon you, please unravel this mystery for me. I am at a total loss.

😕

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/2 "2003-04-04T01:53:39Z")

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[Read on.](http://www.confusednation.com/asshat/)

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**Author:** ![Assuming\_facts\_not\_in\_evidence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Assuming\_facts\_not\_in\_evidence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Assuming_facts_not_in_evidence)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/3 "2003-04-04T02:02:26Z")

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Did we really need a new word for that? If you can’t say “\_\_ is an asshole” when Granny is in the room, would you be able to get by with asshat? I doubt it.

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**Author:** ![Drex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dc4da7/32.png) [@Drex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drex)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/4 "2003-04-04T02:04:20Z")

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Asshat is an asshat. 😃

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**Author:** ![Mastema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/94ad74/32.png) [@Mastema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mastema)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/5 "2003-04-04T03:33:11Z")

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seat sombrero  
cheek chapeau  
derriere dicer  
backside bonnet  
fanny fedora  
moon millinery  
tuchis ten-gallon  
tail topper

asshat \<-- You’ve seen the rest, now try the best!! Call someone an asshat today!!!\*

\*Mastema Inc. is not resposible for ass kickings, roughings up, or any other form of retaliation that may result from following our ill thought out advice.

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**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/6 "2003-04-04T04:16:30Z")

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[Pointless Story]

I actually first saw the term “asshat” used in the game Dark Age of Camelot. In inter-realm (PvP, basically) combat, when one is killed, one’s corpse topples to the ground. Sometime the killer or someone else from his/her realm would come and sit on your (dead) head…thus, asshat

[/PS]

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**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/7 "2003-04-04T04:22:27Z")

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[Pointless Story]

I actually first saw the term “asshat” used in the game Dark Age of Camelot. In inter-realm (PvP, basically) combat, when one is killed, one’s corpse topples to the ground. Sometime the killer or someone else from his/her realm would come and sit on your (dead) head…thus, asshat

[/PS]

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**Author:** ![SumLurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@SumLurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SumLurker)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-what-in-the-world-is/166353/8 "2003-04-04T04:22:51Z")

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I think asshat makes alot more sense than asshole as well.

I always thought it was derived from someone having his/her head up their ass, and picturing this, it would appear that they are thereby ‘wearing an asshat’. Acutally, more of an ass_helmet_ or an ass_ski-mask_. I guess asshat just evolved because it sounded more natural.

I do kinda think asshelmet has a ring though…