Short-Term Gain

I was having a think about how it is that some nations are comfortable stealing the intellectual property of another.  There would be many reasons why it was done, but I was reminded again of something I think I have mentioned before.
Often others justify the way they think or act based on the belief that my thinking is the same as theirs.
This is a generalization and there is good in bad people and bad in good people, but in all there is a defaulting to what is inside.  I do not know if it is right or not, but it is seen as why people coming out for being under anaesthetic would often say things they would not normally say.  It was seen as an expression of what had been suppressed.
There is a common belief that “everybody’s doing it” so that justifies my doing it.  If someone is a thief, they tend to attribute that characteristic to everyone.  It is no wonder they say “birds of a feather flock together.”  Like does attract like and I tend to associate with those of like mind.
I like table tennis.  Others do too.  A club is formed.  I like to go to church.  Others do to.  A church is formed.
It may be that I like to be powerful.  Others do too.  So I form a power base.  I use my characteristics to do so.  If I am a thief, I will steal to achieve my aims.  After all, in my mind, everyone is doing it and that is the way to achieve power.  It is the way I see it anyway.
Acting differently to that cycle blows people away.  For me to act with kindness can be totally unexpected.  It does not fit the framework.  It may be that for most of my life I have known double crossing and theft.  It is what I dish out and expect it in return. 
Some other action provokes a double take.  Often it is “he’s up to something.”  That is generally when the watching begins.  There is a disbelief that that is the way they are.  Only consistency blows that idea out of the water.
It generally takes consistency of action to change an action.  Sometimes change is out of the question.  All action is met with actions born of the belief system.  One upmanship.  Getting the better of another to achieve my aims.
In other cases it is a willingness to acknowledge that maybe my actions are not the way it is with everyone.  Maybe there is another way to do things.  Maybe I want to pursue that way and not the way I have all my life.
But that takes courage.  It does seem to me that in all walks of life strength is displayed acting differently to what is considered the norm.  To be different is to stand out.  It is not necessarily sought, but it is a consequence.
That is especially true when my action may be diametrically opposed to what is considered strength.
For me, this can achieve short term gain.  There may be massive injustice that goes with it, but I reckon it is only ever short-term gain and long term pain.