# What type of person is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017 "2013-07-31T19:53:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/1 "2013-07-31T19:53:55Z")
Ok, there are two people stranded in the middle of the Sahara desert from a plane crash and are stuck until rescued…person A and person B. They have been there for days and haven’t eaten a thing. Person A isn’t fond of person B so that makes the ordeal no so pleasant. Person B finds a gallon of water to keep the both of them hydrated until some help arrives…but because person A doesn’t like person b refuses to accept his offering… What type of person is person A? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/2 "2013-07-31T19:55:58Z")
Dead, stupid, or dead and stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/3 "2013-07-31T20:07:49Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Dead, stupid, or dead and stupid. And thus, the thread was concluded. ---
**Author:** ![Shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/4 "2013-07-31T20:21:19Z")
Dead, stupid and someone who would cut off their nose to spite their face. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/5 "2013-07-31T20:24:49Z")
In olde-timey psychology (It’s no longer part of the DSM), such a person might be considered a “monomaniac”. Someone with a pathological obsession with one idea or subject. “To the last, I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart, I stab at thee; for hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee.” -Khan…quoting Captain Ahab, Moby Dick ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/6 "2013-07-31T20:35:02Z")
Maybe he’s waiting to see what happens to person B after person B drinks some water. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/7 "2013-07-31T21:31:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Maybe he’s waiting to see what happens to person B after person B drinks some water. OK, that made me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/8 "2013-08-01T11:49:19Z")
Person A is what’s technically known as an “asshole”, with possible associated factors arising from an IQ that’s barely sufficient to keep him breathing. Person A will also soon be technically categorised as “dead”, and after a period spent in a desert climate, his condition will pass from “dead” to “jerky.” ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/9 "2013-08-01T11:59:20Z")
Person A has decided that preventing person B from being elevated to the status of “savior” is more important to him than life itself. I suspect for most of us, that’s not much of a hill to die on. OTOH, who is person B? Just how bad is he that you wouldn’t be willing to accept having your life saved by him? There was an episode of Star Trek (TNG) in which Worf had an opportunity to donate blood to save a dying Romulan. If you’re familiar with the Star Trek universe, then you know that there’s some bad blood (no pun intende) between the Romulans and the Klingons. Worf refused to donate, but it wouldn’t have mattered because - more to the point of this discussion - the Romulan told Worf that he wouldn’t have accepted his blood donation even if it had been offered. That’s some big hate. If your life depended on a donation of blood from Hitler, Pol Pot, or _\_, would you accept it? Would you give that evil person the chance to redeem themselves in your eyes? Is there any significant difference between accepting blood from another person, and accepting water? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/10 "2013-08-01T13:24:09Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Is there any significant difference between accepting blood from another person, and accepting water? I’ve heard that blood is thicker. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/11 "2013-08-01T13:27:45Z")
With blood, you’re also taking in another person’s bodily fluids and making them part of your own, so there’d be the objection to “contamination” by the person you hate the most. Not rational of course, but then someone exhibiting this level of bug-eyed hatred isn’t rational to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/12 "2013-08-01T13:42:30Z")
While dead, stupid, and asshole are all apt descriptions, I think the word you are looking for is spiteful. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/13 "2013-08-01T14:08:11Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > Person A is what’s technically known as an “asshole”, with possible associated factors arising from an IQ that’s barely sufficient to keep him breathing. Person A will also soon be technically categorised as “dead”, and after a period spent in a desert climate, his condition will pass from “dead” to “jerky.” Thanks for the laugh. That was brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/14 "2013-08-01T14:16:29Z")
> [@Not\_Carlson](#): > > Thanks for the laugh. > That was brilliant. You’re very welcome. I’m quite hungry at the moment though, so now all I can think of is jerky… ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/15 "2013-08-01T14:26:50Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > Not rational of course, but then someone exhibiting this level of bug-eyed hatred isn’t rational to begin with. Is there a level of hatred that _is_ rational? Would you accept a donation of blood (or a gift of water) from Hitler if it were the only way to survive? ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/16 "2013-08-01T14:31:05Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Is there a level of hatred that _is_ rational? Would you accept a donation of blood (or a gift of water) from Hitler if it were the only way to survive? I’m not sure about what level of hatred would be rational - maybe a hatred of child-murderers. However hatred at the expense of your own life is inherently irrational, especially when it serves no goddam purpose. And yes, Id accept water or blood from Hitler if the alternative was dying. He’d still be an asshole but it’d mean that I’d get to go home to my kids. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/17 "2013-08-01T16:08:26Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Is there a level of hatred that _is_ rational? Would you accept a donation of blood (or a gift of water) from Hitler if it were the only way to survive? The thing is you are not fond of the person to begin with, do you someone who you already aren’t on good terms with bragging about how they saved your life? And your are probably going to be obliged to be on their standards ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/18 "2013-08-01T18:49:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Is there a level of hatred that _is_ rational? Would you accept a donation of blood (or a gift of water) from Hitler if it were the only way to survive? He’s not my type… ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/19 "2013-08-01T21:14:57Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > With blood, you’re also taking in another person’s bodily fluids . . . I backwashed into the canteen. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017/20 "2013-08-01T21:27:54Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > If your life depended on a donation of blood from Hitler, Pol Pot, or _\_, would you accept it? Would you give that evil person the chance to redeem themselves in your eyes? A one-time blood donation would not redeem Hitler, Pol Pot, etc., in my eyes. If Hitler’s blood were the only thing that could keep me alive then I don’t see how it would do me any good to turn it down, nor would accepting it place me in a morally compromising situation. I wouldn’t be obligated to think Hitler wasn’t such a bad guy after all just because he agreed to donate some blood, nor would anyone else. It’s not like donating blood requires heroic courage or kindness. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-person-is-this/665017.md?page=2)