'Dancing With The Stars' Crowns A New Champion
Allison Hope: A Penis And A Dress: Why The Gender Binary Needs To Go…
Name: The Underminer Identifying Characteristics: She puts you down in subtle, almost imperceptible ways and makes tiny digs that keep you up at night, wondering just what she meant when she said, "You're SO BRAVE to wear that dress" or "I could never eat a whole burrito -- like you!" You wonder, was I just insulted? Am I crazy? Did anybody else hear that bitchy little comment? Gah!
Field Study: "Alison once told me she really loved the 'little Web site' I worked for but asked, 'Didn't it get tiresome writing about such silly things?'" says Jenny, 30, from Los Angeles. "Keep in mind -- Alison writes glorified celebrity profiles for a living. I wanted to throttle her from through the computer."
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Why You Keep the Underminer Around: Perhaps it's amusing to listen to her snark out others, but eventually the Underminer will turn her nastiness on you. Like your mama probably told you, some people have to put others down to make themselves feel good. Look up "masochism" in the dictionary and learn to let this friend go.
Got a Friend Terrorist -- a super-toxic friend -- you want to tell us about? Share your story in the comments or drop us a line! We promise we'll change all identifying characteristics and incriminating details.
For a great example of the Underminer at work, check out this short clip from Mike Albo:
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Thursday 21 May
By Nicole
One day me and my underminer co-worker were tasked with repacking something into its original box, which was padded with pre-molded Styrofoam. How it all fit together wasn't immediately obvious. After I fiddled with it for a few seconds, she said, exasperated: "Give it to me! I'm the one with the graduate degree, after all."
Not sure what an advanced degree has to do with shipping and handling (maybe her school offered classes in packing tape?), but anyway ... Ew.
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Saturday 18 July
By amanda
i had a best friend for a long time that i happen to move next door too. after a few months i began realizing that she fit this category perfectly. if i had something to say it was immediately shot down.
these are all exact words, kid you not:
"oh my gosh- you have to see my gorgeous cousin."
"WOAH. she has a horse face, and her daughter is just as ugly. nasty."
"i'm really starting to like this guy, he is wonderful."
"are you kidding me? i can't believe you like him, he's HIDEOUS."
"hey! we're taking a trip to arizona in a couple weeks! i'm SO excited!"
"ew i hate arizona!! it was the worst vacation i ever took. it's just terrbile."
"i've been thinking about getting a dog. what do you think?"
"i think it's terrible. your goldfish died, why do you think you can take care of a dog?"
this went ON AND ON ENDLESSLY. after one incident asking if my wonderful (and smart) boyfriend could READ i just stopped talking to her. of course, she didn't understand so after a while i had to lay it out that every single thing that i had to say she made me feel stupid about. she said she was just being "realistic", and i told her that despite being so, that it really hurt my feelings. ever since then she's been very careful to watch her words :)
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