What's the term in English to describe this kind of person?

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Frontin' indeed. Though it's more than that

Then there's the 'Clown' and 'Evil Clown' actually
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warrio ... lclown.htm

and Jerk
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/jerk.htm

the libby (granted it's obscure and all)
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheLibby

That happens in the USA too. It's SomethingAwful-style activity. Seriously they do the SAME thing on SomethingAwful forums, they have a REPUTATION for being egotistic fa***ts and all (SA goons).

EDIT: I forgot. Internet Tough Guy and E-thug can apply too. As well as Trolling or Spamming. Also the general concept of 'lulz' as well to some people.

EDIT 2: you added in new examples. Those...that's 'flippant' and 'lulzy'. /b/tarded . Also there's an internet saying about it: "INTERNET SRS BSNSS" or Internet is Serious Business, actually it's reverse psychology;; trying to tell you the Internet is NOT serious business and they're all joking on the net, as they say it's for fun as people post porn and make fart/poop joke and all.



nah my n***a

We ain't /b/ yet

My theory is that people act that way because they aren't comfortable being serious. They hide behind jokes and mockery because actually caring about anything makes them feel too vulnerable.

^^^yes.

I've been accused of this IRL, facetiousness - hope I'm not like that here at WP. It's very useful for keeping people at a distance when I can't think of the 'correct' response because I'm tired or stressed.

Actually, I think it's a useful life-skill (not being facetious there, lol, I really do) Best reserved for emergencies though, as it can be irritating.

WordReference has 'rude' or 'loutish' as the definitions for that word.

I actually agree with Starr that it can be a useful life-skill, especially when dealing with pushy or nosy people, or when a situation gets emotionally charged - it can be a quick way to lighten the atmosphere or to let people know in a non-confrontational way that you are not going to play their mindgames or humour their nosiness. Especially in England, where appearing to be trying too hard or being too serious puts you at a social disadvantage and opens you up for bullying. There are times when I wish I had this skill. I can do it online when necessary, but not in real life.

I love your avatar

'Flippant' and 'facetious' are both apt, I think.

I can't bear people like that. A sense of humor is a good thing, but when it becomes simply impossible to hold a conversation with someone because every single line invites a stupid retort...

I'm always glad when there's Hovis in my threads because she knows how to explain exactly what I mean in a way that is understandable. Hovis, that's exactly the kind of behavior I was trying to describe.

Then flippancy it shall be.

In college I hung around a few people who were like that. I just realized that if I wanted to be serious I had to talk with someone else.

I really think people use it as a defense mechanism. Everything is a joke because they're scared to show that they care. They have to pretend like they're above everything so they won't feel vulnerable. It is very annoying.

Looks like we have multiple votes for "flippant."

"flip" is sometimes used, in American slang anyway.

In fact, I had meant to start a thread about my noticing that Aspies are not flippant and that's the biggest difference I see between Aspies and NTs externally.

People who get good at ridiculing and making people laugh at another person's words, are devastating. They can go around humiliating and slamming others, while making themselves look harmless.

The people I knew who were good at making fun of other people's words were pretty undermining and conceited.

"Boring". we used to call them Bores but I didn't read the whole thread so somebody probably already said that.

I just posted a thread on another website forum asking why some people are so flippant, and it's interesting that out of nowhere, some of the posters started mentioning Asperger's, and saying that flippancy is the antithesis of Asperger's - as if they'd read my mind!

Diolch! (Thanks )

I think facetious is when someone is trying to be more 'jokey' than just flippant...you can be flippant without trying to make a joke out of something. That's what I understand the difference to be, but maybe that's just the way those words are normally used in the UK

Last edited by Starr on 18 Mar 2009, 2:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.