Believe my experience

[Esper]

I think, in our interactions with people, we should always begin by assuming that someone is telling the truth, as best they can, when they are telling us about their own experience, and we should believe them. It should be the default position we take, and doubt should only come into play if and when something gives us cause to.

So if someone says they feel victimized by, empowered by, afraid of, and/or benefited from people and events and things - whatever those are - believe them.

I know this is an imperfect viewpoint, that it will immediately spark "But what about..." responses, but I think the core idea is good and sound. Or at least worth working through.

 

[Nihilego]

I guess you want us to discuss the idea.

I think that what you've said isn't wrong, but is kinda... obvious, and just dressed up a little bit. The key point is this: "doubt should only come into play if and when something gives us cause to". I'm pretty sure that almost everyone does that; no-one goes into a discussion or a conversation or whatever immediately thinking "I don't believe you" before a word has even been said unless they've had reason to do so beforehand - or if they do then boy have we regressed. And, yes, doubt only arises when the listener decides that it needs to. This is critical thinking and we, or at least I, do it all day every day in every conversation we have.

Honestly, albeit a little bluntly, I don't think there's anything particularly interesting or groundbreaking about the idea that we should go into conversations believing the other person and should only become doubtful when we see reason to. It's just a very basic foundation of thinking critically whilst not being a dick.

 

[VeryRadRoach]

I do believe whatever they say for purpose of argument usually. If they aren't telling the truth, what they are saying will usually contradict what they later say. Their only limiting themselves or whatever, you know?

 

[string555]

Usually if people tell me something, especially if it's someone I hardly know or don't know at all, I always keep in mind that they could be lying to me.

More importantly, if someone claims to me that they need some kind of help, I take into consideration that it might be some trick. But, since there's a chance it could be real, it seems like the right thing to take that chance and try to help them.

Maybe I just have trust issues... :P

 

[Leafsfan]

I think, in our interactions with people, we should always begin by assuming that someone is telling the truth

Why? We all inherently lie all the time. Granted most of us don't lie to people we are just talking to in public, we still have tendencies to lie, whether something small like lying about what the of coffee you usually order to lying about where you come from. Point is, I think its wrong to assume that everything anyone says is the truth.

 

[Sawsbuck]

I usually will believe people but not always, I'm a huge liar myself usually (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_i4EOC_Cd8A) and sometimes when I believed someone, I was lied to so Idk

 

[Esper]

Honestly, albeit a little bluntly, I don't think there's anything particularly interesting or groundbreaking about the idea that we should go into conversations believing the other person and should only become doubtful when we see reason to. It's just a very basic foundation of thinking critically whilst not being a dick.

Not so much conversations, but disagreements was the area I was thinking of.

Why? We all inherently lie all the time. Granted most of us don't lie to people we are just talking to in public, we still have tendencies to lie, whether something small like lying about what the of coffee you usually order to lying about where you come from. Point is, I think its wrong to assume that everything anyone says is the truth.

Because I think it's important to trust people (when your safety isn't at stake) so that you don't get to a place where you think you know better about someone's life than they do.

Like, if someone says that they have a lot of issues keeping them from getting a good job, there are people out there who'll say" "No, you're just lazy". I think that just breeds unnecessary tension. If this same someone says that they need some extra help then I think it would be good to give it to them, or if you're a suspicious person then give them help on a probationary basis.