IMO it is better to keep expectations few and low. At least in this area.
To borrow a little memory-rhyme Richard Marcinko wrote;
- Quote :
- A.S.S.U.M.E - Makes an ass of you and me.
If anything, assume the worst.
Man is not a rational animal. It's just an animal. But one that has the capacity for rationality, when it is used...
But what is rationality? If you - as it seems from the post - equate rationality along the lines of "decent human behavior" and in general what we expect of people and find "reasonable." ... To a psychopath, rationality can take on a completely different shade. Without being a value-judgement, normal social behavior, and the lines and limits we draw between actions is actually a highly irrational and instinct-driven thing. Although we know on one level we could steal that thing and no one would catch us, but "it would be wrong." Or something along those lines. Now, there's a method to the madness. The irrationality in these things is what allows us to function as a society. On the other side of it there's a lot of irrationality pushing people to be at least somewhat hostile toward other groups, but in turn, that just solidifies the groups. You never know. You might be outgroup and/or you might be looking at a particularily cold type of rationality.
Don't trust the enemy. Don't project stuff onto them that may not be there. At least not anything in their favor. Probably the best we can do is to know and prioritize our tactical needs and basic gameplan, while staying on the right side of the line as best we can. Other than that it seems pretty much down to case by case.
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