We have to get that other people think -normally- that they are doing things roughly right and for good motives. If we don't we're setting up conflict or perpetuating it.
"when our brains are working properly they take measures to assure that, in the end, we believe we're making the best choices, doing the right things, and—in our specific life—nobody else could do it better. ... We can take our faults and find a silver lining. Sometimes we delude ourselves a little along the way, but our properly-functioning brains are exceptional at making the best out of bad situations and our own bad behavior. ... Chances are that when you're in the car, you do stupid things that you hate as a pedestrian and the same goes for the reverse. Ultimately, you're wired to be a hypocrite and fully able to criticize others for shortcomings that are just as much a part of you. ... Although negative emotions weigh far more heavily on us than positive ones, this is only temporary. "
The conclusion of this piece is "the best thing we can do is accept our limitations—and the same limitations in others—to make living together a much more pleasant experience." and in remembering that we have a hypocritical tendency to cut others slack (in this article called 'forgiveness' but I think the meaning here is a pale shadow of the full thing).
Funny, I seem to recall a Galilean preacher saying things that chime with this though perhaps with a bit more robustness and urgency.
Why You're an Asshole (and Why That's Just Fine):
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