What "insult" would hurt you the most?

Question

(I'll go first: If someone called me "selfish", it would make me cry. It is, of course, true that we are all rather selfish, but .. well, I'm sure you get my drift.)

What insult would hurt you the most?

Dear Jack : I wish someone would call me "immature" - at age 64, I am usually known as "senile". - I guess "senile" is the closest I'll ever get again to "immature". --

Dear Jack, Enjoy your youthful spirit, don't ever let anyone hoodwink you into getting serious and ruining your health.

To all, -- These are great answers. Thanks for the insights.

Answer 1

I get hurt the most by being called immature. I act very immature, and I realize it, but it still bothers me.

Answer 2

Being called a coward hurts the most. I've been on my own since the age of 17 and have raised three kids without a bit of help from anyone. In my family I stand alone, and there is absolutely nothing cowardly about me.

Just because I tend to pick my battles doesn't mean I am a wimp. It simply means I have better ways to spend my time than fighting over, or for, every little thing. I learned years ago that sometimes the best policy is to just let it go.

Answer 3

You really want to get to the heart of me? Just say something about me being unkind. It will derail me, I promise you - and the guilt will eat me up eternally. It's that simple. Have there been times when I have been unkind? Far too many in my lifetime - but to be told I am, overall, an unkind person would break my heart. I tend to despise snickering, too and the words "What the hell is wrong with you?" make me shudder.

I find what makes me angriest is not being listened to. I may have a lot to say (I suck at brevity) but that is my own insecurity - I do have a point and it is rarely harmful (certainly never meant to be). When I was younger my parents never let me finish a sentence; they made assumptions and judgments long before I could explain myself. Everything I did, every path I chose, seemed to be wrong. It hurt like hell and eventually made me quite withdrawn. It took me a very long time to realize that others actually want to hear what I have to say. And to know there are people out there who don't need an explanation for my every action, who barely even need me to speak aloud to understand when and why I am hurting, is the most glorious thing in the universe.

What gets you most?

Answer 4

Anything that insults my intelligence, (being called stupid, passive-aggressive remarks in my honor about my knowledge of things, to name a few) hurts me very deeply.

In my teens (many moons ago) I screwed up royally in my education in high school. Later, I got my act together. I am a college graduate, currently a student furthering her education and also a member of the school's honor society...it's an insult to the core to be called stupid when I know I'm not and have worked hard to be recognized for my brains.

Answer 5

When I was working at a bookstore about a year ago, I had a woman tell me that I couldn't do my job properly; I, however, did a fantastic job. At the risk of sounding totally egotistical, haha! I did. >.>

Anyways, what her problem was was that she didn't explain the type of book that she wanted very well. I spent about 10 minutes with her, trying to explain what she wanted! I had NO idea what she actually wanted, so I took her to general pyshcology, hoping that she's find what she wanted there.

Later, she came back to me and told me, quite rudely, that I should learn how to do my job, since she found exactly what she needed by herself (which was woman's studies- RIGHT beside the general psychology :p). So...yea. Rude people piss me off.

I was pretty upset by it and ended up crying to my supervisor, who was near me at the time. I only cried a little bit, but it upset me a great deal.

Any time stupid customers insult me, it makes me sad and angry. There's no need for hate in the world, or rudeness when people are genuinely trying to help your dumb ***! :p

Answer 6

there are a couple that hurt, but I won't mention them here...

I think one that hurts alot for me is being called lazy.
I am not the most physically active person, but I'm not lazy.

I also am really hurt if someone calls me cold and unfeeling. I sometimes give the impression that I don't care about things... but it's usually because my mind is a million miles away or I'm thinking along different lines. I'm learning to be more attentive, but my practical logical side comes into play alot - so I'm more apt to say "suck it up" rather than "I'm so sorry how can I help??"

(((((Uncle Grog)))))

Answer 7

I am actually having a very hard time finding an answer to this question. Perhaps over the years I've gained a very thick skin and learned to ignore words, I find a person's actions hurt me far worse than words ever could.

Answer 8

To be called a liar.

I have always kept my promises even to my children when they were young and if they earned something special like a trip to the beach or the park or something, then I never took it away as a punishment for something else.

A person is only as good as their word and I stand behind my word.

Answer 9

there are only a few people who have that much emotional power over me. if someone i truly cared for told my i was cold or selfish i think it would break my heart.

edit
i don't agree that words only hurt if they're a little true. words can be used as a weapon, and make us doubt ourselves.

i don't think that i'm cold or selfish that is why it would hurt to be thought of like that by someone i love.

Answer 10

As it happens, I decide whether what someone says is an insult or not. In the process of making that decision, I weigh the value of the speaker's comment.

Does the speaker know me better than I know me?

Does the speaker know my circumstances more thoroughly than I know them?

In most cases the answer to those questions is "no."

Consequently, since the speaker does not know his subject, he is likely to be in error in is assessment.

Answer 11

Being called unreliable. I just cant stand the idea of letting any of my friends or family down. I take pride in being there when someone needs me. Guess that's why I am also a volunteer Firefighter.