The 'Be Nice' Theory

[Lizardiar]

Many of you NSGers have most likely heard of the 'You be nice to them, and they'll be nice to you' theory. I think that this way of thinking is insane. Think back to when you were 9 or 10, going into a new grade at school.....Think when you met that first bully. Did being nice to him make him nice to you? Or did he kick your ass, or pester you all the way through school? The same could be said about politics. You don't convince any foreign power to back down by sending gifts and being nice. You make a stand to show that they are going to stop what they're doing. Now I can understand that this can be abused, but I mean actually standing up for yourself, or others, not to use it for personal gain.

What do you NSGers think? is it possible to use this theory in politics or life?

[Martaz]

Human nature is BAD

liberals "feel good" don't understand this

[JuNii]

Many of you NSGers have most likely heard of the 'You be nice to them, and they'll be nice to you' theory. I think that this way of thinking is insane. Think back to when you were 9 or 10, going into a new grade at school.....Think when you met that first bully. Did being nice to him make him nice to you? Or did he kick your ass, or pester you all the way through school? The same could be said about politics. You don't convince any foreign power to back down by sending gifts and being nice. You make a stand to show that they are going to stop what they're doing. Now I can understand that this can be abused, but I mean actually standing up for yourself, or others, not to use it for personal gain.

What do you NSGers think? is it possible to use this theory in politics or life?

I heard of that theory. and where it came from. the 'do unto others and you would have them do unto you'

yeah, I got beaten up by some bullies in grade school... the teachers tho... somehow always took my side of the matter because I was nice.

however, one particular bully decided to push me past the nice stage... just to see what would happen when this 'wimp' was no longer 'nice'.

... I don't remember what I did, tho several people speak of that incident with awe and some do still chuckle... and that bully? He was nice to me after that... Infact, all the other bullies tended to stop their harrassing other losers when I was around.

I try to be nice because I want to be nice. not so much that I expect others to be nice to me afterwards, I do what I do because I want to. no other reason.

[Czardas]

Be nice to people. If they're not nice back, ignore them, or kick their ass. But in a sort of apologetic way.

[Shawilde]

No theory works all the time, but as a general rule, the "golden rule" works pretty well.

As for the notion that "human nature" (itself a bizarre concept) is inherently bad or evil, I maintain that this is utter nonsense. For one, the notion of human behavior being natural or unnatural is moot--if we do it, it is within our nature. Be that rape, murder, cooperation or empathy. "Human nature" is thus more or less a meaningless terms. The question is, of these varied options available to us, which should we promote? The vast majority of humanity, across cultural lines, seems to agree that it should promote some conception of mutual aid or the golden rule, or whatever you want to call it. If humanity were inherently bad, we wouldn't have survived for very long. Pathological "badness" is not much of an evolutionary trait, after all.

[Neu California]

Yes, because piussing off other countries tends to make them want to hit back, and killing civilians in unstable areas tends to make them see you as the bad guys and fight against you. If you're mean to someone they have no reason to be nice to you, y'know

[Kashindahar]

As for the notion that "human nature" (itself a bizarre concept) is inherently bad or evil, I maintain that this is utter nonsense.

You sort of have to assume that 'human nature' isn't intrinsically evil if it's managed to get to this stage of society without self-exterminating.

[Spartan Philidelphia]

'Being Nice' works on the internet! I know because everyone here is accepting and thoughtful, thus leading me to be nice in return! Or at least an attempt.

[Shawilde]

As for the notion that "human nature" (itself a bizarre concept) is inherently bad or evil, I maintain that this is utter nonsense.

You sort of have to assume that 'human nature' isn't intrinsically evil if it's managed to get to this stage of society without self-exterminating.

Precisely. The whole Hobbesian argument is, in a sense, defeated day in and day out by the continued existence and social evolution of humanity,

[Rhodmhire]

Normally I'd give a word of advice along the lines of, "It's not rape if you yell 'surprise!'"

But to avoid being killed, I'll just say as a first act, ignore them and they'll go away, or at least get bored with you and move on to an easier target.

Or be more head on about it and confront them about it and tell 'em to knock it off.

But only exert physical anger if they actually hurt you first.

Because you'll get fucked anally if you react in such a way without them giving you physical reason(s) to first.

[UNIverseVERSE]

Human nature is BAD

liberals "feel good" don't understand this

Interestingly (and inconveniently for you), liberalism is actually a political philosophy based on not trusting human nature to keep itself in check.

[Lizardiar]

By the 'Be nice' theory, I mean the belief that all conflicts can be solved by you (No matter what you did or didn't do) being nice to them.

[Galloism]

By the 'Be nice' theory, I mean the belief that all conflicts can be solved by you (No matter what you did or didn't do) being nice to them.

See, the vast majority can be solved by diplomacy. Not all of them, but the vast majority.

[Lizardiar]

By the 'Be nice' theory, I mean the belief that all conflicts can be solved by you (No matter what you did or didn't do) being nice to them.

See, the vast majority can be solved by diplomacy. Not all of them, but the vast majority.

Giving in? Letting them say what they want and you just give it to them? Didn't a certain man in a certain second war?....Didn't it not work?

[Galloism]

By the 'Be nice' theory, I mean the belief that all conflicts can be solved by you (No matter what you did or didn't do) being nice to them.

See, the vast majority can be solved by diplomacy. Not all of them, but the vast majority.

Giving in? Letting them say what they want and you just give it to them? Didn't a certain man in a certain second war?....Didn't it not work?

I didn't say giving in. I said acting diplomatically. Using the right words, you can actually make people want to give in to you without conflict, if you know what buttons to push, that is.

[Stusorcku]

Be nice to people. If they're not nice back, ignore them, or kick their ass. But in a sort of apologetic way.

This. This, this, this - fivefold, this.

[Grays Harbor]

Be nice to people. If they're not nice back, ignore them, or kick their ass. But in a sort of apologetic way.

This. This, this, this - fivefold, this.

shoot them ... politely?

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

This is a rule of thumb. Anyone that takes it absolutely literally is a fool. Anyone that takes it absolutely literally in order to refute the idea is burning a strawman.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

'Being Nice' works on the internet! I know because everyone here is accepting and thoughtful, thus leading me to be nice in return! Or at least an attempt.

You must show me this part of the internet which is accepting and thoughtful. That there's any place on the tubes that contains nice and accepting people is an amazing discovery every bit as groundbreaking as quantum theory, evolution, or cosmology.

[JuNii]

Be nice to people. If they're not nice back, ignore them, or kick their ass. But in a sort of apologetic way.

This. This, this, this - fivefold, this.

shoot them ... politely?

"Can you imagine a Civil War? Pardon me... [gunfire] I'm so terribly sorry." - George Carlin.

[Basement-Cat]

Human nature is BAD

liberals "feel good" don't understand this

this

alternatively: the Neville Chamberlain situation, just because you are open to alternatives doesn't mean the other guy is.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Cynical though I may be, I just don't see the justification for the statement that "Human nature is inherently bad." This particular statement is highly suspect because it is a conclusion that can easily be supported by a confirmation bias. All pessimistic people reach this conclusion because pessimistic people only ever notice the evidence which confirms their pessimism.

[Galloism]

Cynical though I may be, I just don't see the justification for the statement that "Human nature is inherently bad." This particular statement is highly suspect because it is a conclusion that can easily be supported by a confirmation bias. All pessimistic people reach this conclusion because pessimistic people only ever notice the evidence which confirms their pessimism.

Conversely, optimistic people only ever notice the evidence which confirms their optimism.

[Spartan Philidelphia]

'Being Nice' works on the internet! I know because everyone here is accepting and thoughtful, thus leading me to be nice in return!

You must show me this part of the internet which is accepting and thoughtful. That there's any place on the tubes that contains nice and accepting people is an amazing discovery every bit as groundbreaking as quantum theory, evolution, or cosmology.

Nationstates, of course! I wasn't really talking about the rest of the internet, they're all bad people.

[Katganistan]

Many of you NSGers have most likely heard of the 'You be nice to them, and they'll be nice to you' theory. I think that this way of thinking is insane. Think back to when you were 9 or 10, going into a new grade at school.....Think when you met that first bully. Did being nice to him make him nice to you? Or did he kick your ass, or pester you all the way through school? The same could be said about politics. You don't convince any foreign power to back down by sending gifts and being nice. You make a stand to show that they are going to stop what they're doing. Now I can understand that this can be abused, but I mean actually standing up for yourself, or others, not to use it for personal gain.

What do you NSGers think? is it possible to use this theory in politics or life?

Do unto him before he does unto you leads to his big brother kicking the shit out of you.

That said, I believe in "Be nice -- but when he starts a fight, make sure you finish it."