Is There Such a Term as Sanctimonialism?

One thing that really irks me the most (and needless to say... gets into my nerves) is the audacity of some people who think (and more likely believe) that they are 'holier-than-thou'; that whatever they say, think, and do, are by far, the best of the best.

Whenever I hear anything said about something or somebody in this disdainful (let's use antipathetic and apathetic) manner, it makes me want to bitch-slap that mouth!

By whose rules and by what standards do these disparaging behaviors come about? Really, who draws the line between good and bad or better and best?

Perhaps I am just one over-analytical whiner in this hypocritical environment? Is that it? The irony of it all is that -- am I being self-righteous for criticizing others' self-righteousness?

Again.. the popcorn is stale. I need to close my eyes and mind my own self-piousness. I just wanted to throw in three cents in case two cents is not enough: Self-righteous people, to me, are nothing more than a piece of toilet paper that doesn't really wipe off schitt. (Oooppss. Sorry!)
Share the article below. You might find it enlightening.... 

Cee

Self-righteousness (also called sententiousness) is a feeling of smug moral superiority derived from a sense that one's beliefs, actions, or affiliations are of greater virtue than those of the average person.

The term "self-righteous" is often considered derogatory (see, for example, journalist and essayist James Fallows' description of self-righteousness in regards to Nobel Peace Prize winners) particularly because self-righteous individuals are often thought to exhibit hypocrisy, an idea similar to that of the Freudian defense mechanism of reaction formation. (retrieved 01apr10 from the website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-righteousness)

People who are self-righteous may defend their need to instill their beliefs on others as simply standing up for what they believe in. However, self-righteousness veers off from expressing your beliefs in a few key ways, namely that self-righteous people believe they are always right, superior and more knowledgeable than those around them.

Self-righteousness can drive people to squelch the dreams of their friends (you’ll never be able to do that!), offend people at work (that idea is ridiculous!), and alienate family members (you’re going to marry him?!). They offer their opinions even when they’re not wanted, and feel compelled to make you agree with said opinions, because, after all, they are the right ones.

And while it is possible to be just a little self-righteous and therefore not cause much offense to anyone, people who are too self-righteous may:

• Be quick to judge others
• Belittle those around them
• Be smug
• Act condescending
• Be narrow-minded
• Be intolerant of other people’s faults
• Believe that they have the answer for everyone else’s problems

Meanwhile, self-righteous people often have a very hard time being empathetic. They only view the world through their own eyes, and cannot even fathom walking in someone else’s shoes. 

But aside from the risk of annoying or insulting the people in their lives, people who are too self-righteous are also too sure of their own opinions. In other words, they will stick to them at any cost, and often refuse to hear opposing arguments. They will also never change their opinions based on new information they have received, with the end result being a very closed, intolerant and often prejudiced realm of experience.(retrieved 01apr10 from the website: http://www.sedona.com/lp-self-righteous.aspx)