# On self-efficacy in the world **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2019, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949 "2019-11-03T11:28:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/1 "2019-11-03T11:28:22Z")
Pick a statement. Which one resonates with you the most? Feel free to give reasons if you like (Poll options coming) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/2 "2019-11-03T11:49:50Z")
So long as no one feels they can compel me, I’m fine. I reject instinctively, orders from anyone I don’t respect. I’m a terrible employee. It’s why I function best as my own guy. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/3 "2019-11-03T12:18:01Z")
Too vague, too much depends on circumstances involved. There are times I am HIGHLY irritated when something isn’t done after I’ve asked that it be done, and it could be a life-or-death thing. Or, it could result in a sigh and a shrug that I have to get up and get my own drink. There are times when it’s a nuisance or uncomfortable to have to do something (driving all over to help husband run a useless-to-me errand, or working with a PITA coworker), but that’s a very different thing from being coerced into something frightening, harmful, disgusting (rape, for instance) So my answer is: It depends. ---
**Author:** ![mjmlabs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mjmlabs/32/69_2.png) [@mjmlabs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmlabs)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/4 "2019-11-03T12:51:07Z")
Just here for the pie. Mmmm, pie. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/5 "2019-11-03T17:15:32Z")
Neither of your questions work for living in the real world. And are frankly, a bit scary that anyone would think they would. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/6 "2019-11-03T21:27:00Z")
I remember a fellow computer geek from a long time ago. His mantra was “Either the bit is off or it is on.” Applied not just to computers but real life. :eek: So, is that you Dan? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/7 "2019-11-03T21:31:03Z")
Just don’t touch 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:** [November 3, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/8 "2019-11-03T21:44:49Z")
Pie; I always want pie when I see a poll. And as far as this one goes I am more of the school that we give each other the space to do as we wish as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. If I get what you are going for that is. I’m really not totally sure. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/9 "2019-11-03T23:34:02Z")
As Thomas Jefferson said, if “It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg,” it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/10 "2019-11-03T23:39:11Z")
Make mine pie. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/11 "2019-11-03T23:42:21Z")
When people talk about having power, I often think that there’s a difference between power to (as in, the ability to do what one wants) and power over (as in, the ability to make others do what one wants); and that it’s a problem that we use the same word and often the same terminology for both. Is that the sort of thing that you’re after? – The difficulty I have with trying to follow my theory any further, as in trying to work out some way to give different names to the two versions and then trying to get them into the language somehow, is that all too often when I think of real-world examples, the more I think about them the less I can divide the two neatly. I think they are separate things, but they get tangled in practice: in order to be able to do what I want, power to, I also have to have some degree of power over – even if all I want other people to do is to leave me alone so I can get on with whatever I was doing, I have to be able to get them to do that. (Didn’t vote; at least not yet.) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/12 "2019-11-05T03:19:19Z")
I hate it when people force me to pay the costs for their own benefit, without giving me a say in the decision. For instance, being a jerk on the freeway. Having a dog that barks 24/7. AirBnB. Parking in my parking spot. I think that’s a third category: I get to do whatever I want and other people have to sit back and take it. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/13 "2019-11-05T05:56:41Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Neither of your questions work for living in the real world. > > And are frankly, a bit scary that anyone would think they would. Interesting that you should say that. Tell me more! Are both of the first two options scary? I’ll presume option three isn’t - who doesn’t like pie? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/14 "2019-11-05T07:27:00Z")
I’ve completely given up on ever getting anyone to do what I ask, regardless of how well-meaning or well-paid they are. It’s probably 90% my own limitation in being unable to describe what I want (things that seem obvious to be are not obvious to others). But the remaining 10% is the sheer, unbridled incompetence of every single other person on Earth. I don’t respect authorah at all. But so far I’ve found it easy to work for others; bosses quickly learn that I work best with vague instructions. Micromanagement, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/15 "2019-11-05T14:52:23Z")
As long as people ask me outright and take NO for an answer I am fine. Don’t pussy foot (If you’re not too busy, and if I promise to take one of your shifts next week…) Just say "Can you handle my Tuesday shift?) Take NO for an answer, without the “What do mean, no?” ---
**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:** [November 5, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/16 "2019-11-05T14:55:58Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I’ve completely given up on ever getting anyone to do what I ask, regardless of how well-meaning or well-paid they are. It’s probably 90% my own limitation in being unable to describe what I want (things that seem obvious to be are not obvious to others). But the remaining 10% is the sheer, unbridled incompetence of every single other person on Earth. This. I wouldn’t bother to ask anymore. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/17 "2019-11-05T17:52:13Z")
Both or neither. “Everything’s great” is dependent on everything being great. This usually doesn’t involve me giving orders to people, but sometimes does (“Excuse me, could you let me get by?”), and it usually doesn’t involve people giving me orders, but sometimes does (“Excuse me, could you let me get by?”). Or put another way, in general I like to be left to my own devices, but if I’m parked blocking somebody in I’d rather they asked me to move my car than sit there and stew in developing hatred of me. And while I don’t like bothering people if somebody is parked blocking my car I’ll let them know, after stewing in developing hatred of them for a while. And, of course, I do like pie. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/18 "2019-11-05T19:12:20Z")
> [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > I hate it when people force me to pay the costs for their own benefit, without giving me a say in the decision. For instance, being a jerk on the freeway. Having a dog that barks 24/7. AirBnB. Parking in my parking spot. > … That’s pretty much how I feel. Do whatever you want - so long as you are minimally doing your job and complying w/ societal standards, just don’t inconvenience me. If I don’t HAVE to interact w/ you, I don’t care what you do. But if you are driving like an idiot, being unapologetically ignorant in public, not doing the MINIMUM expected in a public service job… - well, you should probably be shot. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/19 "2019-11-05T19:43:05Z")
This poll seems to be designed by a libertarian hoping for converts that are unaware of the excluded middle fallacy. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-self-efficacy-in-the-world/842949/20 "2019-11-07T19:08:54Z")
Well now, Apple pie, Pumpkin pie, Rhubarb pie, Mince Meat pie, Sweet Potato pie, Pizza pie, Pi, and almost any kind of pie will be fine, Thanks.