Being and Acting Rational

I usually prefer to deal with rational people. In the vernacular, being rational means being reasonable — that is, using reason when making decisions, taking actions, and achieving goals. Rational people tend to be more predictable and, therefore, understandable. Understanding a decision makes it easier for me to accept it. When I encounter and interact with agents on the Web, or when my own agents encounter them, I prefer that these agents behave rationally as well. An agent can behave rationally in at least three ways. Some of these might be better than others; some might be appropriate for individuals but not for groups.