>> Why take the risk of this escalating into a seriously negative sum outcome?
Because if someone does that to you (walking up to you and insulting you to your face, apropos of nothing), then the value to them of the situation’s outcome no longer matters to you—or shouldn’t, anyway; this person does not deserve that, not by a long shot.
I think I’m with Wei_Dai on this one—insulting me to my face, apropos of nothing, doesn’t change my valuation of them very much. I don’t know the reasons for such, but I presume it’s based on fear or pain and I deeply sympathize with those reasons for unpleasant, unreasoning actions. Part of my reaction is that it’s VERY DIFFICULT to insult me in any way that I won’t just laugh at the absurdity, unless you actually know me and are targeting my personal insecurities.
Only if it’s _NOT_ random and apropos of nothing am I likely to feel that there are strategic advantages to taking a risk now to prevent future occurrences (per your Schelling reference).
>> Why take the risk of this escalating into a seriously negative sum outcome?
I think I’m with Wei_Dai on this one—insulting me to my face, apropos of nothing, doesn’t change my valuation of them very much. I don’t know the reasons for such, but I presume it’s based on fear or pain and I deeply sympathize with those reasons for unpleasant, unreasoning actions. Part of my reaction is that it’s VERY DIFFICULT to insult me in any way that I won’t just laugh at the absurdity, unless you actually know me and are targeting my personal insecurities.
Only if it’s _NOT_ random and apropos of nothing am I likely to feel that there are strategic advantages to taking a risk now to prevent future occurrences (per your Schelling reference).