Why do people run somebody down, then make excuses for them?

Question

I guess what I'm trying to say is, when one person says another is a liar etc... then someone else has a problem with that person, the first one makes up excuses for them? Making you look like the bad guy?

Answer 1

Because they always want to look dominant.They want to look and sound as if they are always right.

Answer 2

I got that a lot on my job. I was labeled "the trouble maker" and each new boss that came in was warned about me. I've been on my job over 20 years now.

What I would do is introduce myself to each new person, explain what I knew was said about me and tell them that was not the case. Thus far I've had only one boss fess up to what I already knew. Yes, he denied it at first, but about a year later he called me into his office and told me I said to him exactly what the previous bosses had told him about me. I was raised to speak my mind, I was raised to tell the truth and if I was proven wrong I was raised to apologize.

The company doesn't bother me so much any more. I've written letters of complaint against those who have come after me with their lies and cc'd copies all the way up the line. Of course that didn't happen until I tired of their abuse of me, but as I told the only boss who would listen to me, I don't go forward with action until I get tired of them dishing out their ish.....and when I get tired they all know about it! As a result, even my bosses boss has respect for me now.