Benefit of Doubt

Neanderthal Gangsta: 100,000 years ago, when your ancestor, Bob, in Africa heard something in the bushes, he thought it was a Tiger and ran. It wasn't. It was just the wind. He was kind of paranoid like that. Sometimes the noise would be the tiger. Sometimes the noise would be the wind. Bob would really truly believe there's a tiger lurking, and he'd run.

His friend, Henry, needed more proof. If he heard something, and and he wasn't absolutely positive it's tiger ready to attack him, he wouldn't run. One day a tiger snuck up on and ate him.

Henry didn't live long enough to have any kids. Bob did. People like Bob were more likely to have kids. Soon, there were more people like Bob and less people like Henry.

You're Bob's ancestors, which means you're paranoid by default. You are not interested in proof before you believe something bad to be true because there's no selective advantage for you to be that way.

People will say stuff about you that's not true. Typically, they're not doing it maliciously. They really truly believe what they're saying because, like Bob, they're not interested in giving you the benefit of the doubt. It's not in our nature.

So, next time someone tells you some rumor about another person, no matter how convincing they sound, and how much they, themselves believe it, remember that people usually don't care what is true, for reasons explained in the first paragraph above. It's probably just b.s.

RitzCracker: You could argue the paranoid people survived because of the benefits created by the non-paranoid people, and interbred to create modern humans :d

Mint Chip: If we're Bob's ancestors then we're also likely to believe whatever that person is saying, even if it's about us. I suck? Damn, I guess I do.

Leaahh: A tiger in Africa is bs.

Neanderthal Gangsta: A couple of people asked me about the correlation between paranoia and rumors that I seem to imply. I can see how they may seem like logical fallacies, so I'll try to clear it up at least from my point of view.

The noise in the bushes may be a tiger, and it may be the wind. Bob doesn't know, but he assumes the worst case scenario which enables his preservation.

Bob also listens to other people when they tell him there's bad things in that cave over there, and not to go toward the East 'cause of mountain lions, and don't swim right after eating 'cause we know someone who got eaten by an alligator when he did that. Bob's paranoid personality makes him overly cautious. So when you tell Bob anything bad about something or someone, he'll likely believe you. And, he'll repeat it, and that's how rumors spread.

ToasterFork: Ahh ok

Aura: While not wrong, I'm not sure it's exactly right when it comes to other people.
See, we are social beings. And we have a huge "us vs them" bias.
People are much more willing to believe anything bad about someone who is not part of their group. They are way less willing to believe anything bad about anyone inside their group.

Like football supporters. They are known to get pretty violent. But, someone wearing the same colours as you are, you do not mind having your back to him, in some cases leave your bag with him as you go to the snackbar...just because he is in your group. You trust him. For no other reason than you both support the same team. As if supporters of your team can't be thieves, murderers etc. because he is just like you.
Encounter someone with the colours of the opposite team though, and there is instant mistrust. You wouldn't leave any possessions alone with them, you keep him in the corner of your eye. Because this person is less likely in your mind to be a good person, he is not-like-you.

And so rumors spread yes, but a lot of times among people who consider you part of the opposite team. You are not like them. If a friend hears something bad, even if it is true, he will be much more likely not to believe it.

BuddyLong: I think it simply just comes down to certain individuals needing to strengthen their individualistic thinking.