Empathy
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
Do not mock another person's laughter.
Laughter is a stress reliever and expression of joy; mocking it shuts down joy and causes lasting self-consciousness.
- People may have no control over it.
11 people, independently
Avoid putting others down to boost your own image.
It is frequently noticeable and can lead people to view you less favorably.
3 people, independently
Never attribute actions to malice if they can be explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Most people lack the energy for complex schemes, though assigning misfortune to a grand scheme feels better than accepting randomness.
3 people, independently
Quietly alert someone if they have a noticeable visual issue, such as food stuck in their teeth or a broken zipper.
This stops them from facing embarrassment for the remainder of the day.
- Be respectful.
- One person reported being met with hostility despite a long friendship.
3 people, independently
4 more on this
If a joke fails to land, let it go immediately rather than explaining it.
Explaining the joke kills the momentum of the conversation.
4 people, independently
Tell friends about minor, fixable social faux pas so they can correct them immediately.
You are helping them out by alerting them to issues like food in their teeth or misplaced hair.
3 people, independently
Use the '5-minute rule': only mention appearance flaws if they can be fixed in under five minutes.
3 people, independently
Presume ignorance rather than bad intent when interpreting others' actions.
11 people, independently