Do people think short term or long term?


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I was wondering this recently. Do most people today think short term? How far ahead do most people think, before they do something?  Do people think about the long term consequences of their short term actions.

 

As an example.

 

Weather

 

Short term

It's a nasty out outside with blowing snow and such, But I do want a few things from the store. Lets go

 

Long Term

There is nothing I need from the store, If I get in an accident and total my car I'm going to had wish I stayed home. I think i'm going to stay home.

 

Condoms

 

Short Term

I don't have to use a condom, she's on birth control

 

Long Term

If the pill doesn't work or she forgets to take a pill, I might get her pregnant., I better use a condom.

 

Money

 

Short Term

I have less than $50 to my name, but I think we should all go to McDonald, I have enough money to pay for it.

 

Long term:

If I go to McDonald, the little money I do have will be gone. I think I'll go to the store buy something cheaper that we can eat off of for a few days..

 

Do you think long term most of the time or short term? What about the people you know?

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Most people think short term; instant gratification, get those quarterly profits instead of aggressive development, go to the party instead of hitting the books, elect the dude who's never run anything because it feels good etc. Then they whine like little girls about things going into the crapper.

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Most people think short term; instant gratification, get those quarterly profits instead of aggressive development, go to the party instead of hitting the books, elect the dude who's never run anything because it feels good etc. Then they whine like little girls about things going into the crapper.

Yup, human nature basically, we do whatever makes us happy at the moment.

 

My take on the condom bit:

 

Short Term

I don't have to use a condom, she's NOT birth control, we should stop.... ***humps the living hell out of her***

 

Long Term

FML FML ###### ###### ###### OMG OMG CRIES hope she's not preggers..

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My take on the condom bit:

 

Short Term

I don't have to use a condom, she's NOT birth control, we should stop.... ***humps the living hell out of her***

 

Long Term

FML FML ###### ###### ###### OMG OMG CRIES hope she's not preggers..

 

That pretty much described this entire town. Where every female (most single) is guaranteed to have at least 1 kid. The county just to the south of me literally got featured on 20/20 a few years ago for the highest single mother rate in the United States.

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I definitely think long term.. but do short term and it makes me feel like I can never reach my goals. I know what I want and what has to be done.. I just have a hard time doing something for a long time. I definitely have long term plans but want instant gratification

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I take turns thinking long term and short term. I bet I'd like to convince myself that I think long term but the truth is, if I really thought about it, I probably take more action towards short term goals. I do have long term goals though, so I'm certainly capable of it.

 

Let's put it this way, if there was a room and there were 12 donuts in the room and they were a bit old and the person assured us in an hour fresh donuts would come... I'd eat the old ones, who cares.

If a person was in a room and said I'll give to $50 now or, if you come back in a year I'll give you $100; I'd wait the year (assuming the costs of a return trip were less than ~$25).

 

It's definitely dependent on the situation.

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I think you'd find as always there isn't a directly clear answer and often people will be both.  I am an in the moment thinker when it comes to sex but career wise, what I spend my money on where I live etc I think long term.

 

That being said, instant gratification isn't some big bad negative to be demonised, like many things in moderation its good, where its a problem is when people chase it and have negative reactions or emotions when they don't get it.

 

Many other factors also play a role eg effort and laziness.

 

"I need a few things from the store, oh id have to get changed out of my pyjamas..on second thought I don't need anything"  I just achieved the same outcome as your long-term thinker but was driven by a short-term lack of effort.

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I am a long term thinker.

 

My GF gets so upset  when I say that exact line why I want to use a condom even when she is on birth control.

 

Just tell her, ###### bitch your not the one that's paying child support for 18 years :)

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Depends on the person, Isnt it that leaders,visonarys, Steve Jobs etc are long term. They see the bigger picture. John Doe and his family are short term, Paycheck to Paycheck.

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Depends on the person, Isnt it that leaders,visonarys, Steve Jobs etc are long term. They see the bigger picture. John Doe and his family are short term, Paycheck to Paycheck.

 

Sadly in this case I suspect that the size of that paycheck is a major contributing factor into how far forward John Doe can think. It's hard to think about a visionary product that will make millions and enhance millions of lives when one is literally depending on what little they have for food, and as such all their thinking goes into work and budgeting, because they will struggle if it doesn't. 

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