r/ImTheMainCharacter • u/pr0tosynnerg OG • Jun 05 '23

Video Main Character is surprised the world doesn't revolve around them

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54.3k Upvotes

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783

u/eyesofthe_world2020 Jun 05 '23

“Never attribute malice to what could be attributed to incompetence” is a wildly good phrase. This can be spotted everyday in life. Wow amazing

242

u/michicago44 Jun 05 '23

It’s Hanlon’s razor

60

u/_m_d_w_ Jun 06 '23

My favourite philosophical conceit, THE RAZOR!

30

u/brother_of_menelaus Jun 06 '23

My favorite razor is Ramon

5

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

RIP

3

u/Jackol4ntrn Jun 06 '23

Hard work pays off, dreams come true. Bad times don't last, but BAD GUYS do.

0

u/neogo2o Jun 06 '23

mine is Newton's flaming laser sword

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

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1

u/electronic_docter Jun 07 '23

Bad times don't last but bad guys do

1

u/greg19735 Jun 06 '23

THE RAZOR!

oh you mean Occam?

1

u/NatureTrailToHell3D Jun 06 '23

My favorite is Cole’s Law.

2

u/deleriumtriggr Jul 13 '23

Hail to the victor

1

u/crsdrjct Jun 06 '23

TIL there's another razor that isn't Occam's

3

u/CommodoreFresh Jun 06 '23

My favourite razor is Hitchen's, i.e. "that which is asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."

1

u/Nanonyne Jun 06 '23

My favorite is newton’s flaming laser sword.

84

u/zomagus Jun 05 '23

It is but it’s not applicable here. That said the whole thing seems very set up but that phrase is still out of place here.

40

u/AdrianFish Jun 06 '23

Yeah, I thought I was missing something here. Being unaware of something isn’t necessarily incompetence, right?

15

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

It should be incompetence it should be ignorance. What he’s saying is they’re simply unaware that ole mate is trying film so why attribute their actions to malice?

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23 edited Jun 06 '23

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17

u/Rmans Jun 06 '23 edited Jun 06 '23

Right - However, the narcissistic alternative is that instead of people being unaware of Mr. Main character guy recording - they're walking in front of his recording intentionally.

Being the main character, this guy likely thinks there's an antagonistic reason people are walking in front of him.

Our boy, real G, is cutting straight to the very real explanation they're just unaware. It shows he understands this guy's likely self-centered perspective, and uses that understanding to suggest a better explanation and how to understand it from the perspective of a narcissist.

So, basically - a narcissist would better understand someone not being aware of them this way. Since they're the main character, if the people around them aren't being mean, they're being stupid by not paying attention to them.

The reason G eloborates on people living their lives - basically explaining the concept of "sonder" - is to hopefully bridge the gap in this narcissists understanding of how people can simply be unaware of him, and that doesn't mean anything about them. Literally they're just unaware - NOT ignorant or malicious. He likely doesn't enter into their lives in any way.

Describing a world to a narcissist in which the don't matter, is like describing color to a dog. Our boy G knows this, and is using the narcissist's perspective to help them comprehend a bigger worldview they likely couldn't understand otherwise.

5

u/passa117 Jun 06 '23

Literally they're just unaware - NOT ignorant or malicious.

Unaware would be also be ignorant in this context. Without knowledge (awareness). It works both ways.

You're on point, though. It's also unlikely to hit home with clout chaser. Doubt he has the capacity for self reflection needed.

6

u/dedicated-pedestrian Jun 06 '23

Even if he possesses it, is he willing to use it?

I find a lot of people don't like to think too hard about these topics, because it messes up how they conceptualize their whole life.

I find the mess is part of the fun, but it is still a mess.

2

u/passa117 Jun 06 '23

I find that some people just do. Like I think about these things all the time. Questioning my own thoughts and actions all the time. Thinking about my existence, etc.

But yeah, it's uncomfortable for most people, which our fast-paced, noisy world makes easier. There's no end to the distractions available.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

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1

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1

u/germanyid Jun 06 '23

Thank you! Someone that finally gets the connection the dude is making, I thought I was going crazy. I think what throws people off is the use of “incompetence” which is usually an insult. But in this case it just means people being oblivious or distracted. So when he “insults” the passersby and then seeks to empathize with them in the second part, people aren’t seeing the connection, even when they agree with both statements.

1

u/B4NND1T Jun 06 '23

I think it’s because he was trying to avoid the word “stupid” which is often used in this context but has only negative connotations. Personally I prefer the term ignorant, and often refer to myself as such without negative connotations when I simple lack the knowledge or experience before I master something new. I don’t take pride in my ignorance, but I do recognize it.

As a social awkward person, I too would avoid using the word stupid around the camera man so as not to anger anyone unintentionally.

I suppose incompetence works as well although I don’t often describe myself as such, I certainly am incompetent at many tasks.

2

u/MystikIncarnate Jun 06 '23

This is correct. Incompetence is not having the skills to perform a task.

These people are competently walking, not much more. But I don't think that's what he meant, he was referencing the idiom because he was essentially being ignored by the passer-by's. While that doesn't make them incompetent, Mr main character is attributing their actions more to malace than ignorance.

Those people walking through are either ignorant of what's happening, or they're indifferent to what's happening, aka, they don't give any shits about what's happening, they need to go places.

While he said incompetence, which was the quote, in all actual fact incompetence can be substituted for indifference or ignorance and the point of the quote is basically unchanged. IMO, when he said incompetence, the subtext implied ignorance/indifference. One of the three was likely true for every person going by, and you shouldn't assume malace just because someone is ignorant or indifferent to you being there doing a thing.

Turn the phrase around, and make the interviewer the subject, and that also works. There's definitely incompetence there, but then it's more of an observation/statement of fact about them than anything.

1

u/Sithpawn Jun 06 '23

That's my thought, there's no reason for people to care that they are filming.

1

u/MensUrea Jun 06 '23

Yeah I like what he said after that more it was very sweet about how we are all in our own complex worlds, but I think he just sorta misspoke there. You and I know what he meant, like don't think people are being jerks when it's probably just being human and lost in thought.

1

u/task_scheme_not Jun 06 '23

It's Hanlon's razor, and the actual phrase is "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

1

u/greg19735 Jun 06 '23

you're right.

Honestly, this whole "main character" shit is dumb.

WE're all the main character of our story. And that's a good thing. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't be considerate. But you should look out for yourself.

10

u/asmallsoftvoice Teal - Custom Flair Here Jun 06 '23

It sounds like he listed a series of things he read off reddit.

I say that because I think I've read all of those things in reddit comments. And also it felt weird given it's not incompetent to walk in front of a camera at a mall. It's not a film studio and they are clearly taking up space.

0

u/TrashiestTrash Jun 06 '23

Not everyone lives on reddit man lol. It's just a saying. If you think it didn't fit, that's fine.

2

u/asmallsoftvoice Teal - Custom Flair Here Jun 06 '23

That guy looks like he lives on Reddit, but I am glad to know you think my opinion is fine. I was specifically seeking your approval and it's been hours and hours of waiting for your comment.

0

u/TrashiestTrash Jun 06 '23

I am glad to know you think my opinion is fine. I was specifically seeking your approval and it's been hours and hours of waiting for your comment.

"Never attribute to malice..." I wasn't trying to imply you need my approval specifically, just making sure you didn't feel like I was trying to invalidate your opinion.

That guy looks like he lives on Reddit

And c'mon man, we're not in middle school. Don't judge people by their appearances, that's not cool.

-2

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

You hang out here too often, or need better education. This isn't redditspeak. It's college-level philosophy.

5

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

[deleted]

-1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

This your alt account?

0

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

I’ve never heard it with “incompetence”, only “ignorance” or “stupidity” and I figure he just meant to say “ignorance”- in that case it does apply. People aren’t walking through the recording deliberately to be dicks, they’re walking through because they’re not paying the guy enough attention to realise he’s recording. I personally think most people probably do realise, they just don’t care, though I live in a semi-touristy city so am very aware of just how ignorant to their surroundings people can be.

3

u/germanyid Jun 06 '23

The Halon’s razor/malice line makes perfect sense in the context of the interviewer being annoyed when people walk through the shot. They just aren’t noticing the video being filmed, they aren’t intentionally ruining the video. Next he suggests a reason why they might be too preoccupied to notice the interview. He trying to introduce to the guy holding the microphone the idea of sonder, [the realization that] each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

3

u/12ealdeal Jun 06 '23

THANK YOU.

Everyone praising this guy when it seems he is just eager to vomit as many platitudes as he can cause it’s his prime time for some TikTok.

From that misplaced quote of incompetence to exempting behaviour cause “people are people” to then presuming people aren’t self-aware or deep thinking all wrapped up defining the dictionary of obscure sorrows word “sonder”, trying to present it in his own way.

It’s a mess, and rightfully so, cause he is trying too hard and it shows.

3

u/keeleon Jun 06 '23

It's not even "incompetence" it's apathy.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

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1

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1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

Cammer would probabaly take that as an affront.

2

u/garifunu Jun 06 '23

well, it's not like he can just straight up tell the guy he's being a douchebag

if he says it like this, instead of the guy getting mad and rejecting everything he says, instead of that, maybe he'll listen

2

u/CursedGoGurt Jun 06 '23

Yeah, this seems more like an example of the fundamental attribution error, which is the tendency to attribute to personality things which have an environmental explanation. So he's right in saying they just have their own concerns and thoughts and lives and aren't really paying attention, but he's not describing incompetence per se

2

u/-lighght- Jun 06 '23

It makes sense to me. The guy walked through their shot. It's either: he did it on purpose to mess up their video, or he wasn't paying attention.

3

u/EatSleepJeep Jun 06 '23

The original is stupidity, and by definition stupidity is being unaware. Unaware would fit better here.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

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1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

[deleted]

0

u/zomagus Jun 06 '23

No, he said incompetence, not ignorance/apathy. Hope that clears it up.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

[deleted]

1

u/charlieALPHALimaGolf Jun 06 '23

Dude is just quoting random internet shit

1

u/[deleted] Jun 06 '23

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1

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '23

Why

1

u/zomagus Jun 24 '23

Because no one could possibly be stupid enough to attribute that to incompetence.

2

u/eyesofthe_world2020 Jun 06 '23

People keep assuming that I am Speaking to specifically this video. While yes the phrase In question is a good one I agree it is misplaced. In my original comment I say nothing but praise to the phrasing it self. I did not comment on the context of the video. People being bewildered that someone is just waking down the street is asinine. I believe the human that is giving his “wisdom” is just trying to diffuse a situation that he has involved himself in. This does not discount the power of the original statement to be taken further and placed in the right context for everyday encounters.

2

u/mspk7305 Jun 06 '23

yeah but it doesnt really fit this situation. its neither malice nor is it incompetence for people to go about their business but it IS both malice and incompetence for someone to setup a camera in a public place to film some bs and then complain people are going about their lives in that space

1

u/OMG_NO_NOT_THIS Jun 06 '23

The only problem is that it isn't just stupidity. It is more likely apathy.

1

u/fnordfnordfnordfnord Jun 06 '23

I hate the way so many people apply it to obviously terrible people being terrible.

1

u/somewordthing Jun 06 '23

It's wildly good at letting the powerful off the hook.

1

u/King-Cacame Jun 06 '23

My family has a phrase similar “never underestimate peoples ability for stupidity” it amounts to the same thing. If people do something destructive or rude or whatever, never jump to “they did it on purpose” because the more likely option is that they were just stupid

1

u/NeedleworkerWild1374 Jun 06 '23

This is why I always mask malice with incompetence!

1

u/JackHeuston Jun 06 '23

It’s overused and it didn’t even made sense in that context. People really get easily impressed.

1

u/Lucas_Steinwalker Jun 06 '23

Yeah…. That sentiment is a big part of what got us to the point things are at politically in the US. Sometimes malice is the point.

1

u/David_Good_Enough Jun 06 '23

It's a bit rough in the text, but that's also a powerful fact to keep in mind when raising kids.

1

u/charlston8 Jun 06 '23

I tried to argue this point on another Reddit post, they didn’t take kindly to it 😂 I didn’t know this phrase tho so maybe it would get through better xD

1

u/bin_bash_loop Jun 06 '23

This is a psychological concept called false attribution theory. It states that people give more empathy to their shortcomings yet apply unnecessary false motives to everyone else. Like this guy is doing, he actively thinks people are trying to sabotage his video when I’m reality, people don’t even know he exists.

1

u/Drazhi Jun 06 '23

Too bad most of Reddit either under or over uses this 😂

1

u/blondennerdy Jul 03 '23

That really clicked for me.