Naïvité

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Earlier this evening, I was talking to a girl on the way back to my dorm from the student activity organization we both belong to. She (A) mentioned that she thought one person (B) had a "big ego." I told her (A) that I thought she (B) played the part of the character very effectively (and affectively too!). I said maybe she (B) seemed to be so egotistical because the character she (B) was playing does seem slightly self-centered. She (A) said that, no, she really meant she (B) had a "big ego" in general. I said maybe and told her (A) that I am not very good at all at judging other people's personalities. She made a reply that seemed to indicate that she thought I was in disagreement with her. I said that just, in general, I have trouble becoming aware of if, for example, someone is trying to be mean to me or is being patronizing towards me unless it's extremely blatant.

She concluded from this that I meant I was naïve. I said I suppose I am a little. She suggested it might be a good thing. I said it has its downsides too because sometimes people do "walk all over me" (I didn't say that verbatim) or misread my intentions because I am unaware that something could be taken as possibly offensive. I added that, in general, most people are pretty good people, so there's not too much to worry about most of the time.

The question I now pose is whether you think you're naïve.

By the way, when I say people misread my intentions, sometimes I say something and I do notice a facial expression that indicates they read a different intention from what I said than what I had intended. I usually try to correct such misinterpretations when I catch them. An example of this is when, to begin making conversation with someone I don't know yet, I might ask them about the classes they take. If they're taking a class I'm in too, I might suggest talking with them about that subject later (for example, French). It seems people mistake this kind of conversation for my expecting them to do my homework for me (or at least help me with it quite a bit). This is not the case.

If YOU offer to help THEM it would pre-empt that misconcepton but don't if you don't want to. I tend to assume mostly the best about people, but I can change that quick enough that I'm not hopelessly naieve.

I usto be very naive I diced to counter act that by becoming cynical in high school that has worked very well for me

I used to be very naive. People call me naive for my political views, and I do wonder sometimes whether they are possible.

However, with naivity, comes vision, and it takes a visionary to change the world.

Oh my goddness I used to be VERY naive.I am still a little naive but it's not as bad as before.

-SpaceCase

I used to be as naive as they come, but I've had a steep learning curve over the past year or so.

I've been told I'm naive, don't know if it's true.

everyone THINKS, I'm naive, but I'm really not... I mean what's wrong with being happy? Does that really come off as naive?

I'm incredibly naive, mainly when it comes to double-entendres and jokes. But I'm also just naive in general - I've been called 'too placid and innocent to be true'

I go hyper a lot. Like, really, really hyper. And I get hysterical with laughter, as in I will often collapse with laughter Well it's either that or bursting into tears ...

Yes. And often quite gullible. It is fairly easy to convince me of just about anything (until I have left the situation and I have time to mull it over and realize "No, wait... That doesn't make sense!")