Short term vs long term decisions

I'm always intrigued with people and the decisions they make in life, whether that is a conscious choice or not or whether they let the external influences, or the Effects, change their behaviour in such a way that it actually harms them, but still continues ahead regardless.

What I mean by this is really how people behave and interact amongst themselves and between each other. I'm always fascinated by how when you can be logically speaking to someone about their choices and/or behaviours, but these will instantly change when other people are involved.

A classic example is the whole social scene where people go out to public gatherings endlessly for the purposes of sociability, fun and enjoyment. All this is of course aimed at getting a huge sharp and fast dose of happiness. A short term remedy, because as we all know, the deep long term fulfilled happiness comes with other kinds of activities.

I'm not saying this is a bad or a good thing. These are both different shots of happiness and will require different methods in order to achieve them, however, what always baffles me are those situations which get out of hand.