Slightly more pragmatic version for those situations where many people do, in fact, have negative/selfish/manipulative intent: play dumb and play along with fake cheer if you have to. Assume Positive Intent, but find a way to verify it. If they have bad intent, you might be able to get them to reveal it first. If you act first by being uncooperative or calling them out, you will lose because you are now the bad guy. In fact, articles and attitudes like this submission will be used to paint you as such, regardless of whether there really was positive intent! If "Assume Positive Intent" is a principle that is promoted in your organization, it can be weaponized and one-sided.