# Wow, The Seinfeld characters really were assholes!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-seinfeld-characters-really-were-assholes/704132>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 9, 2014, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-seinfeld-characters-really-were-assholes/704132 "2014-11-09T10:10:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 43

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-the-seinfeld-characters-really-were-assholes/704132/43 "2014-11-09T18:07:17Z")

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> [@msmith537](#):
>
> In all fairness, the NYC that Seinfeld occupies is a world filled with narcissistic, compulsive, selfish, pedantic jerks.

Well, yeah—it’s not like the four main characters are the only jerks, surrounded by sympathetic, innocent victims of their jerkishness.

**ftg** said the characters are like children. There may be an element of truth to that, but overall, I disagree. The characters’ behavior is guided, when it’s guided by anything beyond self-absorption, by _manners_ without _morals_ or _heart_. Their decisions on how to act are based on what’s “done” vs. “not done,” not on what’s “good” vs. “bad” nor on any love, compassion, or empathy. This is not, in general, true of children.

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