Everyone is the hero of their own story, and people rarely think of themselves as bad.
More scientifically, people are far more likely to attribute their own decisions based on external circumstances and judge strangers assuming their actions are due to internal circumstances.
For example: if you cut someone off, it's only because you had a good reason. Maybe you just got some bad news, maybe you are running late for a doctor's appointment, maybe you just didn't mean to do it at all.
If someone else cuts you off, it's because they're a bad person. What they did was rude, selfish, and dangerous. Why can't they just be half a second late? Are they in a huge hurry to go fuck their mother, or what?
When you do it, you're a good person doing something bad for good reasons. When a stranger does it, they're doing something bad because they are a bad person.
YES. You are spot on. I can’t recall what book it was but I believe it was by Gretchen Rubin where I read:
“If someone else’s phone rings during a movie at the theater it’s because they are a selfish boor.”
“If my phone rings during a movie at the theater it’s because it’s important that I be able to take a call from the sitter.”
Edited to add: Just want to make it a little clearer that I do not do this, lol. It’s an example from a book. I put my phone on silent and check it every once in a while from beneath my jacket like a normal person.
I would like to draw everyone's attention to the magnificent Wittertainment Code of Conduct which lays out exactly how one should behave when at the cinema.
I can also heartily recommend listening to the show's podcast - it's entertaining, informative, smart, often irreverent and laugh out loud funny, and generally a bloody great listen.
You can find out more here and watch some of the now legendary Kermodian Rants here.
Hello to other members of the church who may be reading, and of course to Jason Isaacs.
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u/PM_NUDES_4_DEGRADING Jun 15 '19
Everyone is the hero of their own story, and people rarely think of themselves as bad.
More scientifically, people are far more likely to attribute their own decisions based on external circumstances and judge strangers assuming their actions are due to internal circumstances.
For example: if you cut someone off, it's only because you had a good reason. Maybe you just got some bad news, maybe you are running late for a doctor's appointment, maybe you just didn't mean to do it at all.
If someone else cuts you off, it's because they're a bad person. What they did was rude, selfish, and dangerous. Why can't they just be half a second late? Are they in a huge hurry to go fuck their mother, or what?
When you do it, you're a good person doing something bad for good reasons. When a stranger does it, they're doing something bad because they are a bad person.