# Do people tread on you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776 "2016-04-10T03:59:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/1 "2016-04-10T03:59:20Z")
Over half my age ago the latest hit was [Don’t Tread on Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yu2mKp7quI). According to Damn Yankees, if you are nice to people, they will tread on you! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/2 "2016-04-10T04:07:15Z")
Yes they do. But I’m a 18th century snake possibly chopped up by Ben Franklin and/or Lars Ulrich. Believe me, the distinction between the two is difficult to tell, and I’m not so sure most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/3 "2016-04-10T04:43:43Z")
I live in a world of snakes, and they can’t tread on anybody. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/4 "2016-04-10T11:20:11Z")
Both my Wife And my daughter sew, and therefore they often thread on me. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/5 "2016-04-10T11:40:44Z")
People who attempt to tread on me receive a complimentary flat tire. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/6 "2016-04-10T12:24:32Z")
Some fools do, but never angels. The angels know better :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/7 "2016-04-10T14:56:38Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Over half my age ago the latest hit was [Don’t Tread on Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yu2mKp7quI). According to Damn Yankees, if you are nice to people, they will tread on you! Sounds like a version of Nice Guy Syndrome. I recommend not taking life advice from Ted Nugent. There’s no contradiction between treating other people with respect and insisting that other people treat you with respect. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/8 "2016-04-10T15:53:52Z")
I just interpret it (in general usage) as “don’t try to take advantage of me.” you can be perfectly nice to people and still prevent them from using you. Besides, Nugent has really gone off the rails. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/9 "2016-04-10T21:56:53Z")
My mom will be treading on me 10 years after she’s dead. I’m scared of that woman and her ghost. And I mean that in the kindest way people. I want adults who are half my age and twice my size to be terrified of me too. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/10 "2016-04-10T22:15:27Z")
Many people to whom I am nice tread on me. I usually do not argue with them, but run away virtually or in real life. ---
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/11 "2016-04-10T22:57:45Z")
If you’re always nice to people, some will take advantage and likely never stop. Some nice people are just too afraid to come off as not nice or brash and granted some people don’t realize they are taking advantage of someone’s kindness. However all it does is make you a sucker, there always has to be a line drawn with people regardless of their sob story. Just remember, you don’t have to argue, provide excuses or even discuss anything, just a flat out no will suffice and you can just walk away and do whatever you want to do, not what others want you to do. I don’t even let my own mother try to persuade me or boss me around. It’s probably why she’s always mad at me but that’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/12 "2016-04-11T00:08:14Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Many people to whom I am nice tread on me. I usually do not argue with them, but run away virtually or in real life. Hey, **CCitizen** , come back to your other thread and tell us how your first day went at your new improved job! Uh,… you didn’t get trodden upon, did you? ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/13 "2016-04-11T00:18:03Z")
There’s a big difference between being nice and being a sucker. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/14 "2016-04-11T00:51:24Z")
Anyone who takes a pay check or pays rent is being tread upon. You just are. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/15 "2016-04-11T01:17:20Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Both my Wife And my daughter sew, and therefore they often thread on me. I’m in stitches over here. If we ever meet, I’ll buy you a thimblefull. As to the OP, there’s a difference between being nice and being a doormat, and as a recovering doormat I can tell you it’s not easy but the payoff is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/16 "2016-04-11T02:19:20Z")
I tread on my own toes in ballet class this morning. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/17 "2016-04-11T11:59:00Z")
I’m always nice. Until it’s time to not be nice. I’ll let you know when that is. > [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > Anyone who takes a pay check or pays rent is being tread upon. You just are. That’s a bizarre statement of entitlement. Do you expect someone to just hand you a place to live rent-free or just provide you with everything you want without having to pay for it? Did your employer abduct you in the middle of the night and chain you to a cubicle? Do you expect that your employer should hand you a paycheck every week but shouldn’t have any say in what tasks you need to complete to earn that check? Maybe you work in a place where your employer takes advantage of you. If that is how you feel, maybe it’s time to look for a new job? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/18 "2016-04-11T12:59:58Z")
I’ve had little kids tread on me, crawl on me… it’s ok, I like it when little well-behaved kids use me for a playground. I’ve also been informed by people of multiple ages and sizes that my thighs, midriff and shoulders are quite comfortable as pillows. Most people don’t do any of the above. Some who did it in a way I didn’t consider acceptable fell down went lots of boom. Others are still wondering where the nice girl went to 😛 or asking “how could you do this to me?” ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/19 "2016-04-11T14:05:29Z")
To a point; yes. But after that point you better think things through because while I may forgive I will rarely forget. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776/20 "2016-04-11T14:31:52Z")
Judging from the explosion in such bumper stickers it seems lots of people at least \*think \*they’re being trod upon. Funny, but it seems jacked-up pickup trucks are especially prone to being trod upon. With all their big tall tread you’d sorta expect the opposite. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-tread-on-you/751776.md?page=2)