Being nice to people

1. 65

   CARIBQUEENposted 14 years ago

   Does it make sense being nice to people when the world appears to be so cruel? There are times you go out of your way to be courteous and some people are downright crude and brusque. And there are those who use bully and devious tactics and seem to get ahead in life.

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      classicalgeekposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, it makes sense. You get a chance to be the better person, and improve yourself and the world spiritually.

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         Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I used to think that way...something like 35 years ago, anyway.  Respect.  It's all about respect.  But doggone it!  There are some times when I just get sick and tired of being beaten down repeatedly by the same people just cuz I know how to be respectful when they don't have a clue!
         
         Then I blow a gasket, take a nap, and decide Respectfulness is really the right answer after all...but there really does need to be some kind of limit!

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         tritrainposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I have found that 'what comes around goes around', in other words, it's good for ones' karma to be nice to others.
         
         But even if I never receive the benefit of kindness from others, I'd still like to be nice.

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      DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I guess it depends on why you do things. If your nice to someone, to try to get something back, it doesn't make any sense. (AND I don't really think that's being genuinely nice. Its sort of a backwards selfish thing.) If your being nice because you believe it's the right way to be, or the right thing to do, then how other people act (or don't act) shouldn't matter.

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         Ivorwenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I would agree with this.  You do what you do, based on your beliefs, not for what the other person's response.

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            DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            hey, that's cool.

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      rhartlandsbergposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I feel like being nice is something you do for yourself to a certain extent. It can help the world around you become nicer but ultimately isn't that something that you want for yourself in that then you would have a nicer world to live in?
      
      If being nice makes you feel good about yourself then that's wonderful but it seems strange to do it simply to pressure others into being nice to you.
      
      Anyway, just some thoughts... : )

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      camloposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I won't have anything to do with such people. But if I've no choice, and I have to, then I know exactly how to play their game, and do. And I have fun doing it ... to them.

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      lady_love158posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Im nice to everyone and respectful to all until they do something that makes me believe they deserve less. Truth is life is hard its stressful and fraught with challenges and sometimes that can affect ones mood so I try to make allowance for that. I think being nice to each other makes the world a better place for all of us... now if we could only convince liberals of that! Lol

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      mtsi1098posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You will not be able to control all the negative in the world so you might as well do what you feel is correct and say hello - how can it hurt

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   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   I think it's all the more reason to be nice. Mean people are miserable human beings, we don't know what affects them..
   
   I'll smile and say hello just to see someone smile. It's a good energy to have and to give.
   
   I do know what you mean though, it seems to be a sad, mad world. It's nice to spend quality time with good people.

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      Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      (just curious)
      
      what do you do if they don't smile?

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         rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         oh, I don't think anything.. I just live this way.
         
         
         I have read accounts of people telling how a smile from a stranger gave them hope to keep living. I think smiles from strangers or casual greetings are energizing.

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            CARIBQUEENposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            A smile is contagious - so keep on smiling - I believe the whole world will smile with you or is that a fallacy?

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               DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I do not think the world actually smiles, but if your smiling, the world seems less dismal.

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            Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            So, you do it for yourself then, really, for the good energy it gives you.  Kinda like DoorMattnomore says, if your smiling the world seems less dismal.  (I like that!!) 

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               rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I think it comes from within, how we feel about life in general.
               It's not so much about thinking consciously about being a certain way, it's simply being who we are. We all have an effect on our world. 
               
               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAUoClbS … r_embedded

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                  Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                    (nice video!)  I agree, and I'm glad there are people like you who can explain it because I certainly can't - heck, I can't even maintain!

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                  camloposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Glad Rafini replied to this post or I'd have missed it completely. A great video with a great message. Thanks for posting it.

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   CARIBQUEENposted 14 years ago

   Your responses are so beautiful. It continues to give you hope in the human race.  It is so wonderful to be nice to people despite their own hang-ups.

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   prettydarkhorseposted 14 years ago

   I smile and sometimes I wonder if I can infect other people too, it is just a nice feeling to be nice.

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   stephhicks68posted 14 years ago

   In my opinion, its about personal integrity.  If your nature is to be nice and helpful, then do so and don't worry about other people's reactions.  Be yourself and act as you would, regardless of a thank you, a smile back, or sign of appreciation.

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6. 69

   2uesdayposted 14 years ago

   Being nice to people, to me is about being someone that I like. Being nasty makes you feel more negative about yourself.
   
   
   If you smile at someone and they do not respond ,then it is best to not take it to heart, it probably is not about you,something bad may be happening in their lives. If they think you are crazy for being nice, so be it, what harm is done.

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   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   what goes around, comes around...

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      wearing wellposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yep especially a boomerang ha ha:) Ouch !
      Being helpful to those less fortunate than yourself is free and a friendly smile costs nothing too, but the generally positive impact it has on others can be huge;those individuals however who appear rude are possible suffering from emotional stress and depression as for the other bullies who are crude and just plain selfish,they are fueled by greed
      Smile Everyone,Cheese

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   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   one can always fart rice at them, but then yer a mess too. so smile and consider the source, stress and pettiness.

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9. 85

   Aya Katzposted 14 years ago

   The word "nice" has acquired some bad connotations. It is often associated with behaving as if one liked somebody, even though actually that's not true. A genuine smile that comes spontaneously and includes the other person in the moment is good. A smile that says I want to show that I care when actually I don't is not so good.
   
   Sometimes frowning, when that's how you feel, is a kinder thing to do, because the person who sees it is allowed to see the real you.
   
   And whatever you do, don't let the person you just smiled at know that you smile at people "like that" because you are a generous soul. If they figure that out, you have probably earned their hatred.

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    optimus grimlockposted 14 years ago

    just live by the golden rule and don't worry about how others treat you! Let the little stuff go and live your life right!!!

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       TamCorposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       
       
       I agree! Stop before angry thoughts becomes words...think how you would feel if it was directed at you. 
       
       Also, I always try to smile at people, even if I don't know them. Who knows what kind of terrible day they may have had, and how that one simple gesture could possibly brighten their day, even if they don't acknowledge it at the time?  You may never know, but that isn't the important thing, anyway!
       
       

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    2. 65

       CARIBQUEENposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Don't sweat the small stuff, right? Optimus:  you are right about the golden rule but sometimes turning the other cheek hurts - cause you get slapped that side also. But I love all the comments everyone has given as there is a lot of value in your feedback.

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    paradigmsearchposted 14 years ago

    "Being nice to people"
    
    This is truly a case where one can create something from “nothing”. An ounce of your kindness can produce a pound of another's happiness.

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    knolyourselfposted 14 years ago

    Tell everyone how great they are. They do support you, and which with you could do without, the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker.

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13. 59

    knolyourselfposted 14 years ago

    "now if we could only convince liberals of that". What a nice thing to say. That makes me feel oh so wonderful - even if in jest.

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