# Acting without thinking is easier, so why do we still do it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 23, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521 "2011-06-23T02:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/1 "2011-06-23T02:53:07Z")
In another battle of instinct vs. intelligence, I bring up the fact that while it is easier to do whatever you feel like doing, or say whatever comes to mind, it is better to consider all the future consequences of your words and actions. Yet why do we still act and speak rashly, almost instinctively? I have ADHD, so naturally I am more instinctual than most people, yet I’m still responsible for controlling myself. I just find it’s less work not to control myself. I know it’s wrong, but changing that behavior is harder still. I’m not the only one who has self-control and discipline issues, though. I’ve been called nice and smart and compassionate, but all those good qualities get overshadowed by my recklessness and impulsive behavior. But why do we still do it? Why do we continually let our natures get the better of us and cause us to harm ourselves and others? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/2 "2011-06-23T02:56:14Z")
I’m not sure I get the question. As you point out, acting without thinking is easier. Why do you need an explanation beyond that? People often prefer to do things the easy way. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/3 "2011-06-23T02:59:12Z")
What are the disadvantages again? ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/4 "2011-06-23T03:00:04Z")
The question is about the choice between what is right and what is easy. the thread also has a little bit of my story in it to (hopefully) help people understand where I am coming from. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/5 "2011-06-23T03:04:52Z")
It’s really all the same thing, you know. Impulse is just another name for human instinct. Someone insults me in real life, and my immediate first reaction is anger. And sometimes, I do stuff for no other reason besides “because I felt like it.” ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/6 "2011-06-23T03:23:28Z")
Isn’t being impulsive wrong? I was under the impression that acting and speaking rashly hurts myself and others. And I certainly don’t want that. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/7 "2011-06-23T03:48:46Z")
The results are what count. I know someone who is the nicest person you could meet, and I doubt she has ever spent a moment of forethought to her actions. If your impulses end up hurting people, get a grip on it. Personally, I prefer to hang out with tougher people so I don’t have to keep an eye on myself all the time. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/8 "2011-06-23T03:57:14Z")
All my teachers said I was very smart and intelligent, academically. I’m just socially inept. I know for a fact I could get excellent ACT scores, but then I would fail at the social parts of college. If life were more academically oriented, people would be more concerned with how good my marks were, and less with how poor my interpersonal skills are. It’s a wonder my girlfriend is still with me, given how my thoughts tend to be disorganized and messy. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/9 "2011-06-23T04:09:43Z")
I think you just described the majority of people in the SDMB. You must be young. You have plenty of time to adapt. I suggest lot’s of partying. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/10 "2011-06-23T04:13:56Z")
Yeah, you try doing that without a job and a driver’s license. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/11 "2011-06-23T04:17:23Z")
> [@humanafterall](#): > > Isn’t being impulsive wrong? It depends on the situation. If you’re rushed, acting on impulse might be a better strategy than wasting precious time thinking things through. Our brains evolved to handle social and survival situations that arise in small hunter-gatherer bands. The problem isn’t that our impulses are inherently wrong, but that they are not being applied to the situations they were originally suited for. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/12 "2011-06-23T04:19:44Z")
> [@humanafterall](#): > > Yeah, you try doing that without a job and a driver’s license. I imagine you are lacking a car too. Bigger problem than the license. Go to college then (can’t believe I’m recommending that). Pick a school beneath your self declared ability and the academics should be easy. It will be a four year party. You can earn beer money somehow. Seriously, you aren’t as screwed up as you think. You’re just finding your way in the world. Easy for some, really tough for others. You’re definitely not alone. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/13 "2011-06-23T04:21:36Z")
No, I have the car. 1974 Dodge Dart Sport Edition, .318 V8. Runs great, just needs a little body work. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/14 "2011-06-23T04:26:19Z")
Get to work on that body. Other partiers need someone with wheels. They’ll pay for gas and the fun stuff if you can get them around. I know the insurance isn’t free, and the missing license sounds like there’s another problem to deal with. But if you’ve got decent wheels like that, you can’t be that much of a mess. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/15 "2011-06-23T04:37:02Z")
Still living with parents, and I’m 20. On the upside my dad will take me and some friends out to a bar for my birthday next year. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/16 "2011-06-23T04:43:10Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > What are the disadvantages again? When you act without thinking, you don’t get to gloat while you’re doing it. Of course, if you’re **not** a cinematic villain, well . . . ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/17 "2011-06-23T04:44:23Z")
Based on your last pit post, I’d definitely say stop hanging around with your dad. Find people your own age. Learn to observe. Most of life can be managed with a small bag of tricks. Watch what socially ept people do, analyze, and develop a few simple means of dealing with people. If people tell you to just be yourself, don’t listen. Be yourself when you’re alone. With others, be what they like. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/18 "2011-06-23T04:50:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > When you act without thinking, you don’t get to gloat while you’re doing it. > > Of course, if you’re **not** a cinematic villain, well . . . I prefer the challenge of acting without thinking, then finding a way to act like I planned it all along. And somewhere deep down I’m too nice for true villainy. That was a real bad break in life. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/19 "2011-06-23T05:05:17Z")
I don’t know if you have figured this out yet, but I’m an Info Tech Nerd! I know how computers and machines(and between you and me and the rest of the world, I prefer their company sometimes) talk to each other, not how people talk to each other. ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521/20 "2011-06-23T05:13:21Z")
In an ideal world, we would all be reasonable and rational beings… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acting-without-thinking-is-easier-so-why-do-we-still-do-it/586521.md?page=2)