A person's true nature is revealed by how they treat those they have no reason to be nice to.

Yea?

Yes...also how they treat others while noone is looking....

I agree that it can be an indictator of a persons true nature. (Been thinking about this a lot lately.)

If someone shows compassion and love to someone they don't know consistantly then it does show they are a compassionate and loving person.

If someone repeatedly shows disregard and hatred to those they don't know, then this may also indicate their true nature.

Partially true yes, though if a guy picks my pocket and I catch him, not gonna smile and shake his hand.

Some people do.

Hmm. Reminds me of the old quote:


The true measure of a man is not by wealth or honors, but by how many people are willing to call him "friend."

Dragoness, I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying a persons true nature is revealed by how they treat someone who has given them reason not to be nice, i.e., hurt them in the past. Or are you saying a person's true nature is revealed by how they treat someone the don't know?

How you treat your enemies also says a lot about you.

I agree Mo, I just don't believe it reveals your true nature. How you treat strangers, family, etc., reveals your true nature. How you overcome and adapt to adversity reveals your character. I think how you treat your enemies just shows a level of maturity or lack their of.

I thought it was just how you were raised. I was taught..."You be nice or I will whip your @ss with a belt". I would show respect and courtesy because I felt it was right...or I would show respect and courtesy out of fear....but, one way or another...I showed respect and courtesy....lessons learned young will last a lifetime.

I know plenty of people who are thoughtless, rude and/or inconsiderate.....if that was the example that they learned from...then the ones who didn't teach them common courtesy are the ones who are failures.

It can also tell you how someone feels about people in general.
If they treat their enemies with respect it could show respect for all people, even those who have offended them.

Mo, maybe I'm looking at this all wrong. I don't really have enemies but there are people in my life who have treated me badly and continue to do so. I am always civil and courteous but they do not have my respect nor do they deserve it.

Never sink to there level........

Not having respect for your enemy is a sure route to being defeated by him.

Depends on WHY they are being "nice".

Sometimes if people are too nice I wonder what they want in return.

No. At least I don't think so. Certainly not their true nature, you can usually pick that up by how the treat family, friends, even pets. Just because they're a prick to someone that they don't like doesn't make them any less of a person.

Then you have to add in variables, bad day? Possibly, or maybe they have had a difficult week, month, perhaps it is their diet or even some bad weed. Too many variables to really make a solid distinction with a few actions.

The best example I can think of off the top of my head is road rage. It doesn't mean they are mean people, trust me, I know a few and they are actually pretty cool people. There are other extremes I'm sure, but that was the only one I could come up with at the moment.

true..

I think it has more to do with the way they treat others on a daily bases.

Other wise they could be picking the least fortunate to treat good only when they have those around them that knows them.

I'd have to agree with Fear and his examples. Now if the person was consistent in his examples then it would be truer too.

I'm very no-nonense. If I'm trying to return something and I'm told no, I don't whine and gripe. I get very cold and make them get a manager. Then I get my way.

Now I'm all for getting a guy drunk. That's also brought out his true nature. It amazes me how many men who claim to love women actually resent them. I've met more misogynistic men who I never would have guessed it of them.