So you are upset because I am breaking the rules, and not because we are arguing in this thread?
Now who is being disingenuous?
As for your "definition", passive means a lack of action. No amount of arguing will make you right.
The convincing argument you might have given, except you are clearly not able to admit even slightly you were ever not perfectly correct about something:
Language is defined by usage, not definitions in books. People can't use a phrase wrongly, it means what they meant it to mean, the only question is whether it is an effective way to communicate when other people will interpret it differently. In this case, the dictionary definition is never meant, what people really mean when they say passive aggressive is "weak, not physically aggressive hostility".
Incivility is against the guidelines. Civil arguments and debate are fine. Normally I'd be happy to discuss the nuances of aggression and passive aggression, but the tone of this conversation has become overly hostile and I don't want to participate any more.
I disagree with you as to what passive aggression means, in that you have a narrow view and I have a broad view, but there's likely many mental health professionals who actively rely on the DSM in their work that would agree with you. I will certainly keep that in mind when I use the term in the future, so thanks for pointing it out.
I have decided to follow your lead and take a 'broad view' of what 'incivility' means, which is to say the real definition and it's direct opposite.
Good luck on taking the high road, or whatever it is your posturing is meant to convey!
Oh, and if you are going to pretend my definition is just the dsm 4 super narrow version (as if you had any idea of that before you looked it up on Wikipedia to try to debunk what I said), try googling 'passive aggressive definition'.
Now who is being disingenuous?
As for your "definition", passive means a lack of action. No amount of arguing will make you right.
The convincing argument you might have given, except you are clearly not able to admit even slightly you were ever not perfectly correct about something:
Language is defined by usage, not definitions in books. People can't use a phrase wrongly, it means what they meant it to mean, the only question is whether it is an effective way to communicate when other people will interpret it differently. In this case, the dictionary definition is never meant, what people really mean when they say passive aggressive is "weak, not physically aggressive hostility".