The Science Behind "Nice" People

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Replies

  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    I wonder how your large circle of friends and family feel about your fatalistic outlook. Truely, I would like to know how successfully you move through our society with a contrary philosophy.
    Two issues here. First, I'm not defined by what others think. Second, you would have to ask them.

    The general consensus is that I'm someone they're very, very glad to have on their side.
    Truely, I would like to know how successfully you move through our society with a contrary philosophy.
    I'm not sure how my philosophy is contrary.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Although there are times when the "if you scratch my back..." scheme surfaces even in every day life, there are other motivators that explain why people act nice to others. Your deeds may simply be the means to make each person you encounter have a more enjoyable day.
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    In my mind, "trolling" is someone that posts things like "I hate grandmas and puppies." On strings like this, the word "troll" is typically used as a last-resort cliche' because the poster has no other recourse nor argument.

    Maybe it's defined differently on this site (or in your mind) then, but on all other sites I've been on, trolling is defined as posting something inflammatory in order to get an emotional response, rather than posting to genuinely interact with people and exchange views. Throwing out statements and questions to bait people rather than stating genuine views or asking genuine questions.

    The OED defines it as:

    'Computing slang. To post a deliberately erroneous or antagonistic message on a newsgroup or similar forum with the intention of eliciting a hostile or corrective response.'

    I doubt that a post of 'I hate grandmas and puppies' would get much response. It's a bit too obvious!
  • SuperstarDJ
    SuperstarDJ Posts: 443 Member
    I used to go about my life assuming everyone I meet is a piece of *kitten* until they proved otherwise. Never trusting anyone, never giving anyone the benefit of the doubt. It's actually a pretty safe way to live your life. You will never be taken advantage of, because you will never let anyone get close enough to do so. However, I realize it doesn't make for a very happy life. It's not that you won't have friends, but more than likely you'll have friends who feel the same way you do. So you'll probably sit around discussing your very cynical views of the world.
    I decided to change things up, and try to follow one simple rule: treat others as I like to be treated. In other words: be nice. Surround yourself with nice people. Distance yourself from negative people. This doesn't mean I trust everyone. Trust has nothing to do with being nice.
    In regards to big, mean, scary people who come off as intimidating: that's their issue. I've spent time with some mma fighters. Guys who train full-time on how to kick *kitten*. Guys who walk the streets knowing they can whip about 99% of the people they run across. These are some of the nicest, most humble guys I've ever known. We go out to a club, and the last thing on their mind is trying to look tough, because they have nothing to prove to anyone.
    Just my .02
    ^^ THIS! ^^
    I'm curious, on which world do you reside, exactly?
    A world where every single stranger I bump into is not a potential threat...
    That does sound like a nice world.

    Unfortunately, the world I live in has Department of Justice statistics that show 1 out of 3 women will be sexually assaulted at some point in their life....
    [/quote] Yes, and I have been one of the 'one-in-three' but it was a family member. Also...
    ...The same statistic say that 8 out of every 10 Americans will be a victim of a crime before the age of 40.
    Again, I've been horrifically attacked, on multiple occasions by my partner. Again, somebody known to me (The worst crime committed against me by a stranger was my cell phone snatched from my hand).
    So, being a victim of assault and abuse by the people who I should be able to trust the most should surely make me extremely wary and mistrustful of people, no?
    No. Of course it took me a long time to get to the place I'm at now, but it just feels like a nicer world to live in now. As I've stated already, I cannot control the actions of others but I can control my reactions to them and the world around me.
    Can I come live in your world??
    You are very welcome to come live in my world :) It's quite nice here really.
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    The OED defines it as:

    'Computing slang. To post a deliberately erroneous or antagonistic message on a newsgroup or similar forum with the intention of eliciting a hostile or corrective response.'

    I doubt that a post of 'I hate grandmas and puppies' would get much response. It's a bit too obvious!
    By that definition, every court docket, summons and subpoena in the country is technically "trolling."
  • _VoV
    _VoV Posts: 1,494 Member
    I wonder how your large circle of friends and family feel about your fatalistic outlook. Truely, I would like to know how successfully you move through our society with a contrary philosophy.
    Two issues here. First, I'm not defined by what others think. Second, you would have to ask them.

    The general consensus is that I'm someone they're very, very glad to have on their side.
    Truely, I would like to know how successfully you move through our society with a contrary philosophy.
    I'm not sure how my philosophy is contrary.



    I agree that he's not being contrary, since his argument is as legitimate as any other.

    This is an old argument on the nature of man. There's even Biblical precedent for his argument on the point of 'original sin.' It has continued through the ages as a prime philosophical question. And now science is getting into the act. His argument is not without merit, but I think the critical question of motive is too simplified: altruism may have a primary motive which serves an external good, but results in personal side benefits (feeling good; being respected in the community; possible future rewards).
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    I'd say it's more correlated than proven.
    Actually, it's one of the most highly accepted scientific theorems in history. Google "Price Equation."
    Nice story, but the Price Equation has actually been disproven.

    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022519311003754

    The equation doesn't actually hold up to reality.

    You haven't answered my posts except when I am pretty sure you thought you were responding to someone else, but I hope you answer this one. (Am I not being mean enough? Would being mean give me the advantage in this situation?) (I can't read the article, so I'm interested to know what's in there.)
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    The general consensus is that I'm someone they're very, very glad to have on their side.

    Sooooo....in addition to your kids and bacon.. that's what you need? Oh well, if you're content being the gorilla, I'm glad it works for you. Thanks for your contribution and some Sunday morning amusement. If you find something that works for you, stick with it?
  • what a load of cynical crap

    I agree with you ^^ this is such a cynical point of view and very sad. I just got back from Sunday School and my church has some of the nicest people I have ever met in my 39 years on this earth. They have on many occassions helped me & my family with absolutely no thought of getting anything in return. I think you forget that sometimes people are "nice" simply because they love!
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    You haven't answered my posts except when I am pretty sure you thought you were responding to someone else, but I hope you answer this one. (Am I not being mean enough? Would being mean give me the advantage in this situation?)
    Sorry. It's hard to keep track of who's hating me at what particular moment. ;)

    The links provided go to a publication that simply theorizes a possible missing variable in Prices theory, based on a third theory.

    I can find links to pages that use the same approach to disprove gravity.
  • gayje
    gayje Posts: 230 Member
    Very rarely would a woman find a man attractive, and commence to beating that male with a stick.

    I don't think all of us can be grouped into one or other categories based on math or science, because there IS the existance of humanities. And I want to add that the above quote USED to be me but since I am officially done "breeding" I just may go around willy nilly with my man-beater stick and, well, who knows? I just may sport the stick and not use it.
  • NormalSaneFLGuy
    NormalSaneFLGuy Posts: 1,344 Member
    The OED defines it as:

    'Computing slang. To post a deliberately erroneous or antagonistic message on a newsgroup or similar forum with the intention of eliciting a hostile or corrective response.'

    I doubt that a post of 'I hate grandmas and puppies' would get much response. It's a bit too obvious!
    By that definition, every court docket, summons and subpoena in the country is technically "trolling."

    erroneous - mistaken, wrong, incorrect
    antagonistic - hostile

    You're stating that every docket, summons, and subpoena is incorrect or hostile? That's just stupid.
    Hell a subpoena just requests someone to appear. How can that even be defined as erroneous or hostile? At best you could claim it as unnecessary unless you're claim is that 100% of subpoenas have the incorrect information for the person that is being summoned; however that would mean no one would ever get it. So then you must mean that 100% of subpoenas are hostile. No, they are a technical procedure. In some circumstances it could be perceived as hostile, but some is not all.

    When I get called for jury duty, that's incorrect and hostile?

    Do you even listen to what you say?
  • I_wanna_live
    I_wanna_live Posts: 227 Member
    what a load of cynical crap

    I agree... if this was the case, then I know 15 guys and girls who are single... no kids... and are the nicest people you would ever come a crossed. But, it is the *kitten*, pricks, dirt-bags, etc... I know that the other gender flock to.
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    I haven't hated on you--I think that's the problem! The only issue I'm really taking is with the notion that this is proven rather than correlated. (The homicide rate goes up with ice cream consumption. This is proven. However, the two are only correlations and don't indicate causation. The theory is that as the heat rises, people are more aggressive due to discomfort and other biological changes. But they also eat more ice cream. My theory is that those eating the ice cream are less likely to commit homicide in the heat. Because ice cream rocks.)
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    The OED defines it as:

    'Computing slang. To post a deliberately erroneous or antagonistic message on a newsgroup or similar forum with the intention of eliciting a hostile or corrective response.'

    I doubt that a post of 'I hate grandmas and puppies' would get much response. It's a bit too obvious!
    By that definition, every court docket, summons and subpoena in the country is technically "trolling."

    erroneous - mistaken, wrong, incorrect
    antagonistic - hostile

    You're stating that every docket, summons, and subpoena is incorrect or hostile? That's just stupid.
    Hell a subpoena just requests someone to appear. How can that even be defined as erroneous or hostile? At best you could claim it as unnecessary unless you're claim is that 100% of subpoenas have the incorrect information for the person that is being summoned; however that would mean no one would ever get it. So then you must mean that 100% of subpoenas are hostile. No, they are a technical procedure. In some circumstances it could be perceived as hostile, but some is not all.

    When I get called for jury duty, that's incorrect and hostile?

    Do you even listen to what you say?
    Read it again.
    Then go Google the word "antagonistic."
    Then read your post again.
    Then go Google the word "ironic."

    But I'll tell you what, to prove a point. I'll summons you to court, and subpoena your family members.

    We'll talk about how happy everyone is to be there.

    My post above was a joke, dear.
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    The OED defines it as:

    'Computing slang. To post a deliberately erroneous or antagonistic message on a newsgroup or similar forum with the intention of eliciting a hostile or corrective response.'

    I doubt that a post of 'I hate grandmas and puppies' would get much response. It's a bit too obvious!
    By that definition, every court docket, summons and subpoena in the country is technically "trolling."

    Well, technically, by definition, this 'computing slang' is about posting messages on online forums, so doesn't apply to real life court situations. People posting on a 'chit-chat, fun, and games' forum aren't on trial, and it's not your job to persuade a jury that they're guilty. Context is everything - things may be the accepted norm in one situation, but not in another. For instance, it's considered perfectly acceptable to strip naked in your bathroom before you get into your bath, but it's not considered acceptable to do so in the middle of the street before you step into a puddle.
  • what a load of cynical crap

    Exactly. What do you expect to gain if you give money to a random homeless guy you met on the street ? Sounds like the OP has an excuse for not being nice, because according to "mathematical formula" no one else is.
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    Well, technically, by definition, this 'computing slang' is about posting messages on online forums, so doesn't apply to real life court situations. People posting on a 'chit-chat, fun, and games' forum aren't on trial, and it's not your job to persuade a jury that they're guilty. Context is everything - things may be the accepted norm in one situation, but not in another. For instance, it's considered perfectly acceptable to strip naked in your bathroom before you get into your bath, but it's not considered acceptable to do so in the middle of the street before you step into a puddle.
    Yes. I know. I was making light of the "antagonistic" and "publication" aspects of your definition.
  • atsteele
    atsteele Posts: 1,358 Member
    I buy into the fact that being "nice" helps the "herd" but not necessarily entirely buy into the example of the woman being nice only to potential mates. I've had a lot of guy friends which I would never consider "mating" with. hehe BUT that being said, they did offer a nice barrier in social situations such that I didn't have to deal with anyone hitting on me. The herd offers protection to the individual. ;)
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    I haven't hated on you--I think that's the problem! The only issue I'm really taking is with the notion that this is proven rather than correlated. (The homicide rate goes up with ice cream consumption. This is proven. However, the two are only correlations and don't indicate causation. The theory is that as the heat rises, people are more aggressive due to discomfort and other biological changes. But they also eat more ice cream. My theory is that those eating the ice cream are less likely to commit homicide in the heat. Because ice cream rocks.)
    Hmm. I do like ice cream. ;)
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    Well, technically, by definition, this 'computing slang' is about posting messages on online forums, so doesn't apply to real life court situations. People posting on a 'chit-chat, fun, and games' forum aren't on trial, and it's not your job to persuade a jury that they're guilty. Context is everything - things may be the accepted norm in one situation, but not in another. For instance, it's considered perfectly acceptable to strip naked in your bathroom before you get into your bath, but it's not considered acceptable to do so in the middle of the street before you step into a puddle.
    Yes. I know. I was making light of the "antagonistic" and "publication" aspects of your definition.

    Lol - okay. Making a joke to evade the fact that the definition nailed you! :tongue:
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    Lol - okay. Making a joke to evade the fact that the definition nailed you! :tongue:
    Hahaha... C'mon... I opened the entire thread by disclosing that I'm mean and scary. Claiming I'm a "troll" is like poking a grizzly bear with stick, then wondering why he ate you... really? lolol
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    And speaking of "troll," have you seen the posts that some of these people put on my discussion thread?

    One guy called me "fat," and the Blue Globe guy follows me from thread to thread, continuously explaining that he's disgusted by my posts, and that he's ignoring me. Constantly. And just to make sure I know he's ignoring my posts, he reminds me, that he's ignoring my posts.

    Seriously? lolol
  • MIchelleH2027
    MIchelleH2027 Posts: 1,239 Member
    Someone needs a hug (and to touch some boobies and some bacon.)!!!
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    Lol - okay. Making a joke to evade the fact that the definition nailed you! :tongue:
    Hahaha... C'mon... I opened the entire thread by disclosing that I'm mean and scary. Claiming I'm a "troll" is like poking a grizzly bear with stick, then wondering why he ate you... really? lolol

    Lol - I didn't call you a troll, and you didn't do anything that would equate to eating me! I don't actually care whether you're a troll or not - trolling doesn't bother me - but hey, I was curious as to your reasons for starting the thread, you told me, I pointed out that this is technically trolling, and you stated you had a different definition of trolling. So I naturally looked it up in the OED to check, and shared my findings with you!

    And you didn't disclose that you're mean and scary - you said that's how other people describe you. Could be true. See, cuz I don't automatically distrust what people say! :tongue:
  • chubbygirl253
    chubbygirl253 Posts: 1,309 Member
    I'm pretty nice. Not to get ahead or serve any hidden agenda. I'm just a pretty nice gal. I care about people's feelings, using manners, and having social responsibility. I try to apply basic Golden Rule principles to everyday life and top that off with my Christian upbringing and being raised by a mama who instilled Southern charm in us at a young age. It isn't a hardship for me to treat people courteously and with respect. And I do the right thing whenever I can. I'm not perfect, but I'm not gonna let my shopping buggy roll and dent your car door and just walk away even if no one saw it. That being said, my sweetheart is even nicer than me. Nice enough I think people sometimes think they can walk all over him. He will eventually stand up for himself, in the nicest possible way. By that time I just wanna smack someone for taking advantage of his huge heart. I usually give people the benefit of the doubt but I don't let people mistreat me or others around me. It's possible to be nice without being a doormat. Most people I run into are pretty nice too. Maybe you're right...they probably have a selfish motive... I know what they're up to! They're trying to butter me up so they can be my friend! And I'm so polite I'll reciprocate. ;-)
  • Molly_Maguire
    Molly_Maguire Posts: 1,103 Member
    Gorilla, I'm going to beat YOU with a stick. :tongue:
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    And you didn't disclose that you're mean and scary - you said that's how other people describe you. Could be true. See, cuz I don't automatically distrust what people say! :tongue:
    Darth Gorilla says, "Your transition to the Dark Side is nearly compleeeete."
  • GorillaEsq
    GorillaEsq Posts: 2,198 Member
    Gorilla, I'm going to beat YOU with a stick. :tongue:
    Again?

    (She's my pimp)
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    And speaking of "troll," have you seen the posts that some of these people put on my discussion thread?

    Of course - I stated earlier that you're definitely not the only one here to indulge in trolling! But you could be seen as the master troll of this thread, if you like, since you started it and all!
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