Barry_Cotter comments on The 5-Second Level - Less Wrong

111 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 07 May 2011 04:51AM

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Comment author: Barry_Cotter 08 May 2011 09:14:37PM 0 points [-]

If you're not angry, what would motivate you to do any of those things?

If you are dealing with someone in your social circle, or can be seen by someone in your social circle and you want to build or maintain a reputation as someone it is not wise to cross. Even if it's more or less a one shot game, if you make a point of not being a doormat it is likely to impact your self-image, which will impact your behaviour, which will impact how others treat you.

Even if in the short run retaliating helps nobody and slightly harms you, it can be worth it for repuatational and self-concept reasons.

Comment author: Swimmer963 08 May 2011 10:23:25PM 3 points [-]

Point taken. I am a doormat. People have told me this over and over again, so I probably have a reputation as a doormat, but that has certain value in itself; I have a reputation as someone who is dependable, loyal, and does whatever is asked of me, which is useful in a work context.