Do you care what people think of you?

[BloatedGuppy]

Simple question. "I don't care what anyone thinks" is a commonly issued bit of bravado, especially on the internet. It's generally accepted advice that you should shrug off attacks from people who A) don't know you and B) are probably just flinging poo, but as a society the digital age has allowed for unprecedented levels of segregation. Moreso now than ever, we can surround ourselves with friends and immerse ourselves in communities who share all our predispositions, values, and biases. Consequentially, we never get challenged on anything...and each successive generation is becoming, as a result, increasingly impervious to any form of behavioral criticism.

So, again, simple question. Do you care what people think of you? Do you care if people who barely know you think you're acting like an asshole? Do you care when you hurt someone's feelings? Do you care if you're perceived as arrogant, or smug, or rude, or cold, or presumptuous?

Or do you behave however you want, and leave it to the rest of the world to deal with your shenanigans?

If you do shrug off all criticism like water off a duck's back, do you consider this a character strength, or a character weakness?

 

[Jonluw]

I don't care a lot if people who barely know me think I'm acting like an asshole, but I do care if I hurt someone's feelings.

In general, I don't care a lot about what people think of me. The closer someone is to me, the more I care of course. But I try not to let it bother me much.

 

[KiKiweaky]

Yes I do. That doesnt mean I'll go out of my way to please anyone but nobody likes an asshole.

Theres a line between not caring about what people think doing silly things - streaking for example and then being an asshole - jumping in front of somebody in a que or something like that.

 

[requisitename]

I don't care what people think unless they're people I care about. Even then, my caring is fairly limited, to be completely honest. IRL, I'm a very quiet person. I watch, I listen, I don't say much or get involved in goings on. This leads people to label me "aloof", "cold", "distant" or "arrogant", none of which are even remotely accurate. Why should I care what they think when they don't know me? Maybe I am like that or maybe their perception of me is skewed by something that has nothing to do with me. I certainly don't want to spend my time catering to how others think I should be. I'm me, love me or leave me alone.

I always feel bad when I hurt someone's feelings, even if it's unintentional. I try hard not to be an asshole, or act in ways that could make others mistake me for one. I shrug off most criticism easily and I don't consider it either a character strength or a weakness. It does, however, make my life a lot easier than it was when I was younger and cared very MUCH about how others perceived me!

 

[JesterRaiin]

Do you care what people think of you?

Sure, but not just any people. Also, i rather do nothing to change their opinions.

 

[FamoFunk]

Only if I like them and want to show a good impression. Random people in the street or I meet in a pub/club I'll never see/recognise again? No, I don't care what they think about me.

People with whom I'd like to form friendships with or get along with, yes, I do care what they think of me because I want it to be good so we can get along/be friends.

 

[Slippers]

We live in a community. Our opportunities, quality of life, quality of relationships and the like depend solely on our continued existence within said community.

"I do not care what people think about me" is something that can only be said by hobos and mountain men. You don't have to care a lot, but you have to care.

 

[bojackx]

I don't care if people think I'm stupid or immature or childish, but I care if they think I'm a douche or asshole. I like to be nice, but if I wanna start dancing stupidly in public I don't really care if people are like "you're weird!"

 

[Esotera]

Not really, but I treat people well most of the time just because it's easier that way. I'm quite fine with expressing my weird mind when it's socially appropriate.

 

[omega 616]

To be honest, not a lot.

I don't act like tool, like being mean to people or using them in anyway. I know I am arrogant and often a pedant but I am okay with that.

So personality wise, I'm okay.

I just wouldn't like people to think "ew look at him, he's all sweaty ... I bet he stinks", I sweat a lot and I get self conscious about it but's not like I can spray my face with deodorant or anti-perspirant.

I don't let it bother me too much though.

 

[Ham_authority95]

I kind of do. I have my own standards and I try to keep them up. These standards are also ones shared by other people.

If a person comes along that disapproves of my standards and way of acting, I'll probably ignore them unless the person in question can prove they're for the worse.