Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The Three Types of People

My dad says that there are two types of people in the world:

1. People who are deliberately trying to screw you.
E.g. marketers, televangelists, republicans

2. People who don't care whether or not you get screwed.
E.g. employees of large corporations, foreigners, renters

I have found this to be true, at least for interactions with strangers. But some recent discussions with friends have convinced me that at least one more category needs to be added to the list.

3. People who may care, to some extent, but who are bound to screw you anyway by virtue of their incompetence or misdirection.
E.g. newbie windsurfers who borrow your mast for the weekend and get it permanently stuck together because they rigged it sloppily on the beach and got sand in the joint

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9 comments:

Johnny Douglass said...

Did I say that? Your Mom is always quoting me on things I forgot I said too. Nobody should take me seriously. (Don't quote me on that.) I now know there are a third kind of people, Venezuelans. What kind of committee are you having trouble with; you're making me nervous?

James Douglass said...

Hey dad- Yes, you said that! Of course I knew you weren't talking about family, friends, and close acquaintances. Also, I'm not having any trouble with MY committee because they're in the friends and close acquaintances category. I think I'm going to change that example, though.

Outdrsmn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Outdrsmn said...

Sounds like a damaged, misplaced or stolen story precipitated this post. With the third type of person I usually end up pointing the finger at myself because I usually know better but do it anyway. It's "Nice Guy Syndrome"

James Douglass said...

Ourdrsmn- Oh, nothing in particular precipitated this post. I just thought it was funny. It definitely shouldn't be taken seriously. :)

PeconicPuffin said...

I can think of at least two other kinds of people. Fools, who lend masts to newbie windsurfers. Who lends a mast to a newbie windsurfer? The first thing I was taught (after uphauling) was "you need to have your own gear!"

and

Puffins, who don't screw anybody but themselves.

James Douglass said...

Puffin Michael- You are absolutely right. I ought to know better, but when the newbie windsurfer is a cute girl I tend to forget that cardinal rule. :P

Catapulting Aaron said...

I guess I'm the type of guy who wants to screw you. But don't you think people wanna get screwed now and again? It's SCIENCE, really.

James Douglass said...

Aaron- Good points. Also, it can sometimes work out well when two parties are each trying to screw the other. Other times, not so much.