3 ms·
if he managed to push her into quitting it was probably worth being a little mean about it. Only if being mean to someone is a much more effective way of makin
by ktizo 14y ago
if he managed to push her into quitting it was probably worth being a little mean about it.
Only if being mean to someone is a much more effective way of making them quit. It is just as likely to stress them out and make them smoke more. Being mean to be nice as a strategy only makes logical sense if there is no way to achieve the same thing without being mean, otherwise you are just being mean and justifying it with some potential future outcome.
- dllthomas 14y agoMostly correct. "Being mean to be nice as a strategy only makes logical sense if there is no way to achieve the same thing without being mean[.]" Not quite. Being mean to be nice as a strategy makes logical sense if the benefits to the other person from your employing that strategy outweighs the drawbacks, as compared to alternative strategies. That it be the only option to accomplish the goal is neither necessary (if alternatives avoid being mean but have other huge drawbacks) nor sufficient (if the goal itself is not worth the damage done by being mean), though is certainly highly suggestive.
- eitland 14y agoMeta: Nice example in correcting someone in a nice way.