I agree with pretty much everyone else here, that it's a term for someone who is refusing to take control of their situation. Someone who's so oblivious to their personal or financial mistakes that they don't even recognize them as mistakes, that person is not a complainypants. When someone has been shown the light, however, and STILL refuses to make necessary changes, that person is the embodiment of complainypantsness. An explanation is just that, but plenty of people still hang onto their excuses like a lifeline. All of us do it in some areas, and accusations of complainypants can be helpful in being a gentle reminder to actually look at your own blind spots.
For example with biking. People seem to think I must be some elite athlete to bike as much as I do and in the conditions I do. But here's just the thing: I was born partially paralyzed from cerebral palsy, but have recovered enough nerve and motor function to be nearly normal. I'm never, ever going to be an athlete at an elite level, but why should I let an easy excuse stop me? Nor is my city some biking paradise where the cars only exhaust rainbows.
That is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing that.
'Just cuz someone in similar circumstances did it doesn't mean I can' would be nearer the mark. I can improve my running time but I'll never get to a 4-minute mile. Just not built for it. In fact the, 'I did it therefore everyone else can' thinking is the scourge of the forum. I call it being judgeypants :) But for the most part people get that, say, someone with a special needs kid will have a harder time than others. It's complainypants once they start being like, but I caaaan't save any money at all because-because my special needs kid! Even MMM has admitted that ER might not be a path open to people earning minimum wage, but he would certainly facepunch any of them for not taking responsibility for their lives.
I sort of agree, but then again don't. Just because you'll never run a 4 minute mile (I won't either) doesn't mean you can't be a runner, but that is how most people take it. I'll never be great at this so might as well not try. That is the ultimate complainypants attitude, and you do seem to be saying that toward the end of the paragraph.
I think that when someone says, "I did this so you can too!" it's not meant to be a 1:1 thing. Just because I walk to work in -40 weather and love it doesn't mean I think everyone else can or should, but pretty much everyone else can and should dress for the weather in their area and walk/bike more often, rather than letting their excuses get in the way. Again, most people DO use those excuses as reasons why they can't do something.