Comments on: Should we slap warning stickers on our friends to avoid picking up their bad habits? http://dangerousintersection.org/2009/02/01/should-we-slap-warning-stickers-on-our-friends-to-avoid-picking-up-their-bad-habits/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:08:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: grumpypilgrim http://dangerousintersection.org/2009/02/01/should-we-slap-warning-stickers-on-our-friends-to-avoid-picking-up-their-bad-habits/comment-page-1/#comment-35306 grumpypilgrim Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:40:08 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=4629#comment-35306 The causation could go either way. People tend to become like those they hang out with, and they also tend to hang out with those who are like themselves. The causation could go either way. People tend to become like those they hang out with, and they also tend to hang out with those who are like themselves.

]]> By: Tim Hogan http://dangerousintersection.org/2009/02/01/should-we-slap-warning-stickers-on-our-friends-to-avoid-picking-up-their-bad-habits/comment-page-1/#comment-35305 Tim Hogan Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:22:01 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=4629#comment-35305 I have often believed that we should place a sign, "Not Fit For Human Consumption", on ourselves when having a really bad day. Often, I will forwarn my friends of these days. Friends usually are great about not hassling me. Sometimes I read a book, blog or go to a movie by myself on these days. I have noticed a tendency to mimic those I am with and that I like while in a conversation. Sometimes my wife will remark upon it, wondering if it may be insulting to the other conversant. I have often believed that we should place a sign, “Not Fit For Human Consumption”, on ourselves when having a really bad day.

Often, I will forwarn my friends of these days. Friends usually are great about not hassling me. Sometimes I read a book, blog or go to a movie by myself on these days.

I have noticed a tendency to mimic those I am with and that I like while in a conversation. Sometimes my wife will remark upon it, wondering if it may be insulting to the other conversant.

]]> By: Erika Price http://dangerousintersection.org/2009/02/01/should-we-slap-warning-stickers-on-our-friends-to-avoid-picking-up-their-bad-habits/comment-page-1/#comment-35280 Erika Price Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:20:33 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=4629#comment-35280 I've noticed that people can even pick up opinions by proxy, and defend them with the virulence of their own opinions. And have you ever seen two friends fight over who "invented" or "started" a trend, or the use of a word? I've gotten into mini-spats with friends, thinking that I came up with a bit of slang that is used within our small group, only to find that several other people believe <i>they</i> came up with it. The imitation of others seems to occur on such a deep, pervasive level that we don't even realize when we do it. The parts of other people that we adopt become parts of ourselves. I’ve noticed that people can even pick up opinions by proxy, and defend them with the virulence of their own opinions. And have you ever seen two friends fight over who “invented” or “started” a trend, or the use of a word? I’ve gotten into mini-spats with friends, thinking that I came up with a bit of slang that is used within our small group, only to find that several other people believe they came up with it. The imitation of others seems to occur on such a deep, pervasive level that we don’t even realize when we do it. The parts of other people that we adopt become parts of ourselves.

]]> By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2009/02/01/should-we-slap-warning-stickers-on-our-friends-to-avoid-picking-up-their-bad-habits/comment-page-1/#comment-35277 Erich Vieth Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:49:30 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=4629#comment-35277 I suspect that this map shows that we pick up our religious beliefs through "osmosis." http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/adherents.gif I suspect that this map shows that we pick up our religious beliefs through “osmosis.” http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/adherents.gif

]]> By: Dan Klarmann http://dangerousintersection.org/2009/02/01/should-we-slap-warning-stickers-on-our-friends-to-avoid-picking-up-their-bad-habits/comment-page-1/#comment-35265 Dan Klarmann Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:24:01 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=4629#comment-35265 Earlier observations of this phenomenon may be found in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Carnegie" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dale Carnegie</a>'s writings in the 1920's and the 1970's pop-psych movment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-linguistic_programming" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Neuro-linguistic programming</a>. These guys focused on using this unproven principle to gain personal advantage, rather than proving that it is real. I know people who swear by those techniques. Earlier observations of this phenomenon may be found in Dale Carnegie’s writings in the 1920’s and the 1970’s pop-psych movment of Neuro-linguistic programming. These guys focused on using this unproven principle to gain personal advantage, rather than proving that it is real. I know people who swear by those techniques.

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