[samatman]

Is the etymology actually obscure? I seem to recall it gaining currency in the warblog era (late but not lamented) and it's a way of saying someone has their head up their ass. They're wearing their ass as a hat.

I remember this being explained a lot in various comment sections where folks would yell at each other about the war. It's hard for me to see this as folk etymology since afaik it's where the word itself comes from. Someone should ask Instapundit.

[mordechai9000]

I first encountered "asshat" in the context of network security: there are white hats, who are motivated by ethics and social responsibility. There are black hats, who are motivated by personal gain and seem to lack a sense of morality. Then there are asshats, who don't care about anything other than amusing themselves at other people's expense.

I have absolutely no idea of this is the origin of the term, or if it just fit there perfectly.

[neltnerb]

And I first encountered it (2004?), exclusively verbally, as a way to soften asshole. As far as I could tell and assumed to this day, it was taken up primarily aesthetically (sounds nicer than asshole and looks nicer in text, literally aesthetics here).

Still, it had the same implication of someone who is sort of oblivious to other people (asshole) but in a somewhat endearing or amusing or not all that serious a way.

[datavirtue]

You describe the BOFH. Total asshat.

[deaddodo]

I can remember "asshat" being used among punks, goths, metalheads, hackers, etc during the 90s; for sure. At least, in Southern California.

[thrower123]

This may be false memory, but I'm almost certain Beevis or Butthead introduced me to asshat heckling 90s metal videos

[pseudalopex]

The examples in the article were older and from a different community.