4 rules to live by, according to the Internet

Ditch the obvious jokes about people's names.

Mar 26, 2016
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We'd all like to think of ourselves as good people, but the truth is, we can't all be model citizens all the time.

There are certain morals, though, that some people won't compromise. To find out where people draw a hard line in the sand, Redditor jpsky asked the Internet, "What's your strictest personal rule?"

Here four standards people in the thread hold themselves to at all costs, even when they can't always be stand-up people in other ways:

1. Don't complain about problems you can solve

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"Don't complain about stuff that you can easily fix," said BaronBaconBits.

"I kind of go the opposite. I try really hard not to whine about sh*t that I have no control over. It's just pointless and only spreads negativity," said RyudoKills.

So, there's no point in complaining or worrying about what you can't control, since it won't do anything. And there's no point in complaining or worrying about what you can control, since you can change the situation instead. 

Basically, there's no point in complaining because you're just feeding negative energy without doing anything productive.

2. Don't make people feel stupid

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Many people find it highly frustrating when others don't seem to understand the obvious. But Bloodclub293 ​learned the hard way that you've got to repress your rage at others' stupidity—and your excitement about sharing your expertise. 

"Don't make people look stupid just because you know more than they do," they wrote. "Be happy to share, not show off. I didn't realize this until last year (21) and I met someone worse than me. Self: So that's why people hate me!!" Sometimes you really don't know how bad you are until you meet someone even worse. 

As several pointed out, though, this doesn't mean you can never teach anyone anything. 

"It's really all in the delivery," said cabbage_fart. "The trick is to add to the conversion rather than overtake it."

3. Don't argue over text

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3. Don't argue over text

Technology has heightened our ability to connect—and our arguments. 

"Never argue on texts," said tacticalDemon. "Too easy to misinterpret things." 

In fact, according to a recent study, most people expect people to detect their use of sarcasm in writing, but recipients can really only tell about half the time what is serious and what is sarcastic. 

And even when we're being serious, virtual communication can make us say things we would not say in person. 

"I've said some truly horrible things over a text argument which I would never have said to them if they were actually there," said Epicdemic93.

Remember that saying, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all?" In the digital age, perhaps it should be amended to, "If you wouldn't say something to someone's face, don't say it at all."

4. Don't joke about people's names

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4. Don't joke about people's names

This one isn't morally wrong so much as just plain annoying. If someone has a name that's used in a song or sounds like a company or is shared with a celebrity, chances are this comes up at literally every party they ever go to. So, you're probably not being funny or clever by cracking a joke about someone's name.

"I don't make jokes on names because the person has probably heard it a thousand times," said MonsieurVIVI.

"With the name Cesar, I've heard it all," said thekey147. "The last time I heard a new one, it was something about how she wants to see me without my dressing." 

If you've got one like that, though, it would probably be wrong to let it go to waste—which just goes to show there are exceptions to every rule. 

But if you're looking for easy rules of thumb to live by, this thread will prevent you from coming off like a jerk in nearly any situation. 

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