People are basically good

[MoseyWalker]

Believe it or........not?

I believe it. I might not have before, but I do now.

Are people basically "good"?

[sendero]

1. I think so too..

.. but I think they are easily manipulated into thinking other people aren't.

[Ptah]

2. That's not what Pluto says. n/t

I said n/t, why are you looking here?

[MoseyWalker]

3. Pluto's just pissed right now

Pluto will think it over, and probably change it's mindset. Maybe?

[intheflow]

19. Pluto always prefered mice to men.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear MoseyWalker!

People are basically good, IMHO......

Just look at the responses in my thread!

I know that there are bad folks about.......I see them as products of their environment......

So call me Pollyanna...I don't care........

:hi:

[swag]

5. Are people basically "good"?

Why the quotation marks. Don't you know what "good" means?

I know I don't.

[knowbody0]

6. I think basically good

but now days, I am more cautious and need to observe longer before welcoming them into my home.

[WannaBeGrumpy]

7. I like to think so..

makes things a whole lot easier!

[bif]

8. I think people are basically assholes

It takes a good upbringing to mold them into good people. But that's just me.

[MoseyWalker]

9. Are you basically good people?

Are the people you hang with basically good people?

Let's not make assumptions about those we may not really know very well.

[Kajsa]

10. I think they are.

Circumstances in a life can change that.
But I do think people are basically good.

If Ann Frank could believe that,
I sure as heck can, too.

[NMMNG]

11. If you asked me 7 years ago I would have answered "yes" without hesitation

Now I have to keep clinging to that belief just to maintain my sanity, while simultaneously hoping I'm not digging my grave by doing so.

[Richard Steele]

12. Nope. Most people are 2 days from a bit part in "Lord of the Flies".

[cobalt1999]

16. absolutely...

and under the right circumstances, I include myself too.

[SofaKingLiberal]

13. I think basically eveyone believes that they themselves are good.

[Random_Australian]

14. Yes - sort of.

[Guava Jelly]

15. I think people are basically Selfish

And selfishness makes them greedy and that makes them evil.
Plus we sure love to kill each other over stupid shit :)

[Ariana Celeste]

17. I think they start out that way

Assholery is a learned behavior.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. I change my view based upon the day of the week.

Sometimes I think that civility is a less than paper thin veneer... other days some one will wow me with the smallest act of thoughtfulness. Right now, I'm in the "people are basically good" camp. :hi:

[intheflow]

20. I agree, but with a caveat.

I think people are basically good. That is, they mostly don't lie or steal. But I also think that many people will make decisions based on their own self-interests, so they make decisions that others could interpret as being bad.

Example 1: The government has lots of money so it's ok if I cheat on my income tax and keep a little of my own money in my pocket.

Example 2: It's only a ding, I don't have leave a note on that windshield, it'll only drive up my own insurance rates.

[Coyote_Bandit]

21. Yes and No

I think most people are well intentioned. Most people think of themselves as being basically good. Most people do not actively intend harm to other people. Most people do not consciously try to manipulate or control other people - but many do unconsciously. And many people are harmed by the competitive nature of a society that values people based on their wealth, or talent, or connections, or beauty. Most people act in their own self-interest. I think almost every choice that people make can be explained in financial terms.