How much does like/dislike factor into information perception?

James · #1 05-10-2004, 02:08 PM

I was wondering. If you like a poster or person are you more likely take their post seriously or find it credible . . even if its not?

If you dislike someone are you more likely to dismiss a post or think its untrue . . even if it is?

It occurred to me that this is an enormous blind side a lot of people have, that whether they like or dislike the messenger affects how they process the message.

I have definitely seen it real life also . . . Whether its in our social circles or even national politics.

33girl · #2 05-10-2004, 02:11 PM

I don't know about credibility per se...if a poster I don't like says "XYZ chapter hasn't made quota for 10 years" or some such thing, I'm not going to go research it because I don't believe them.

Although, if a poster I don't like said that, I would be more likely to think they were doing it to be bitchy, rather than if a poster I liked said it - I would think the latter was just passing on information.

So I don't think it's so much credibility but intent.

Lady Pi Phi · #3 05-10-2004, 02:37 PM

I think people are generally more likely to disregard information if they do not like the source.

Using GC as an example, I've been known to over look certain posters because I don't like them. But it's not so much that I don't think they are credible, but rather because I have no interest in what they have to say.

Kind of like, "I don't like you...so don't talk to me because I won't listen".

And I have definitly done that in real life. It happens. People tend to avoid those they don't like, so it could eman not reading a post or ignoring a speaker.

veemers · #4 05-10-2004, 02:43 PM

Sometimes it can be difficult to read what people are trying to say. If someone only posts things in a joking manner, I'm going to take something they don't mean to be that way as joking. Similarly, if there was a poster who posted ideas I didn't like in a manner I didn't like, then I wouldn't really regard simple facts as mere statements. I would second guess the intent of the post.

breathesgelatin · #5 05-10-2004, 02:45 PM

I agree with 33girl. If I don't like someone, I'm more likely to just figure they're doing things for spite--doesn't necessarily mean I want to "out" them.

But I think this tendency is natural--we trust people we like, not our worst enemies!

PhiPsiRuss · #6 05-10-2004, 02:47 PM

Its not a question of like or dislike for me. Readability is important. If the grammar is terrible, or the poster likes to drone on and on and on, then I'll probably ignore the post outright.

Glitter650 · #7 05-10-2004, 03:33 PM

I generally read everyone's posts... even if I don't like the poster... but I am more likely to think that they are saying things out of spite if I don't like them. I do agree the same thing happens in real life though...there are very few posters that I have a problem with though... so...

Dionysus · #8 05-10-2004, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James

It occurred to me that this is an enormous blind side a lot of people have, that whether they like or dislike the messenger affects how they process the message.

I have definitely seen it real life also . . . Whether its in our social circles or even national politics.

I agree, and I find this EXTREMELY scary. I seriously think a few GC members could start cult and others will follow. I think some GC members have that much influence over other people and some are that naive to follow them. This site suffers from a serious case of groupthinkitis.

33girl · #9 05-10-2004, 04:26 PM

Dammit Dionysus, why are you posting on GC instead of selling those flowers at the airport like Great Holy Mother told you to?

ISUKappa · #10 05-10-2004, 04:30 PM

For me, it has a lot to do with the topic and the tone of the post. There are people I may not always agree with, but if they have relatively insightful and readable posts, I'll take the time to read them. I've learned a lot by doing that.

There are, however, some people who seem to be continually defensive, inflammatory or just mean. I may still read their posts, but they get a whole lot of internal eye-rolling and I don't always take them seriously.

The same goes for me IRL. For example, I work mostly with women. Three of the women I'll actively listen to when they share their thoughts because I want to hear what they have to say. One woman I'll tune out because she has a tendency to be negative, melodramatic and turn every conversation into something about her. If I'm not gaining anything from the conversation, I usually don't put my full attention to it.

Glitter650 · #11 05-10-2004, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dionysus
I agree, and I find this EXTREMELY scary. I seriously think a few GC members could start cult and others will follow. I think some GC members have that much influence over other people and some are that naive to follow them. This site suffers from a serious case of groupthinkitis.

Dionysus · #12 05-10-2004, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Glitter650

Why

? lol

sugar and spice · #13 05-10-2004, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dionysus
I agree, and I find this EXTREMELY scary. I seriously think a few GC members could start cult and others will follow. I think some GC members have that much influence over other people and some are that naive to follow them. This site suffers from a serious case of groupthinkitis.

Oooh, name names!

Dionysus · #14 05-10-2004, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sugar and spice
Oooh, name names!

From the top of my head I can say hoosier, 33girl, carnation, KABillymac, and Imthechamp have/had lot of influence over some GC members. This is not a personal attack on them at all. The ability to have influence is not a bad thing at all. I just notice that there some people who NEVER EVER EVER disagree with them.

33girl · #15 05-10-2004, 05:34 PM

OK everyone, pick up your orange sheets at the front of the room!

Seriously, I would HARDLY put myself in this category. Maybe if it seems this way, it's because 1) I post a hell of a lot 2) I'm decent at expressing myself via the written word (tested out of English 111, thank you). If someone says to me "that's what I was thinking, but you said it best" I hardly consider that swaying someone's opinion.

If I had that power, especially regarding things Greek, believe me there are areas where I would be using it.

This all of course is not to say that I DON'T agree that there are posters on here who conciously try to do that sort of thing. Because I think there definitely are.

ETA that I have the feeling Dio is being a bit sarcastic, considering one of the people she named has been banned twice (or was it thrice?) and one of them hasn't posted here in like 2 years.