Hello, Mingle2 world, I was just wondering. We so often say about someone that they are a good person. Or we think about ourselves that we are the ones. But what does that mean for you. How do you recognise them, what are their qualities? Just a thought.

thats a good ? very hard sometimes to tell on line ... but in the out side world I would say if someone can tell you their life history in a store or somewhere and just start telling you ... I am thinking they or I must be nice ... I personally try and be nice all the time ... but can be set off easy sometimes ... others out side of here you have to get to know them to see what kind of personality they have and whether they are a nice person or not ...

Thank you, Mystical Yes, mostly good people are nice to each other, I agree It's truly hard to say sometimes whether someone is a good person. Time and their deeds always show their true nature

you got it sea and on line those deeds are hard to parse from the masks

For myself, one of the characteristics of the good person is their integrity: words are affirmed by their actions. Between their options they choose those which won't hurt anybody, and if their is no other way, they will do that with respect for other person.

Hi Eric

Yes, they truly are. In the beginning everybody shows of their best side In time we become more lazy to maintain it all the time and that's when you get to know the other one for real.

I agree seacoast, a person's integrity is what helps me determine whether or not a someone is a good person. People can say nice things, but do their actions back that up?

Precisely. I would say that a good person doesn't always appear as a nice one, although very often it is so.
I think that the ultimately good person will always do the right thing, no matter if there wouldn't be any consequences for doing the opposite, nor shall be afraid to do right although there might be consequences for doing so

What makes a good person?

For me, compassion is an important value. Showing consideration and respect for others. Caring with genuine sincerity. Putting yourself in their place in an effort to feel or understand what another person is going through. Going out of your way for others with no expectations of reward. Simply helping because someone needs help.

Exactly. Integrity, honesty, respect for others can be shown only through deeds.

Thank you Pisces

I absolutely agree with you Ameercommoner Compassion and at least try to understand others from their point of view are most deffinitely signes of genuinely good person. Respect for others goes hand in hand with those two virtues. Very good point

Yes, exactly! I've seen people do things they know are wrong but do it anyways because they most likely wouldn't be caught. The "well no one will know" thing just doesn't work for me and I have a hard time respecting someone who lives by that motto.

guess there won't be no kissin under the apple tree
where nobody else can see

on a serious note

while good doesn't always have to be selfless acts. a person that pays it forward, without a hew or cry, steps to the head of the good line for me

Well why would that be wrong?... unless of course there's something you're not telling the one your kissing

Well, maybe it would be wrong if you were trespassing.

because has always been a good spot to steal a kiss

Can't imagine you needing to "steel" a kiss from any woman

To me, a "Good Person" exists in optimism.
They don't "try' to see the good in things they can't help but to see the good in things, or people.

The Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game sets character alignments by affinity.
While many examples of alignment can be found with specific game traits you can understand the baseline affinity of someone by looking at their action traits.

There is a wiki page on D&D Alignment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons)#Alignments

Wizards of the Coast also has an Alignment test that you can fill out for an idea of your alignment traits. Remember, it is for building a character for use in the game. But, if you honestly answer it can give you an idea of where your alignment is.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd%2Fdnd%2F20001222b

Lawful Good
A lawful good character typically acts with compassion and always with honor and a sense of duty.

Neutral Good
A neutral good character typically acts altruistically, without regard for or against lawful precepts such as rules or tradition. A neutral good character has no problems with cooperating with lawful officials, but does not feel beholden to them. In the event that doing the right thing requires the bending or breaking of rules, they do not suffer the same inner conflict that a lawful good character would.

Chaotic Good
A chaotic good character does what is necessary to bring about change for the better, disdains bureaucratic organizations that get in the way of social improvement, and places a high value on personal freedom, not only for oneself, but for others as well. Chaotic good characters usually intend to do the right thing, but their methods are generally disorganized and often out of sync with the rest of society.

My personality lies between Neutral and Chaotic Good.
The thing about real life alignment that differs from game play alignment is that we all have a capacity for all alignments under different circumstances. There is an affinity for a certain alignment and a capacity for all the others.

Lawful Neutral
A lawful neutral character typically believes strongly in lawful concepts such as honor, order, rules, and tradition, and often follows a personal code.

Neutral
A neutral character (a.k.a. true neutral) is neutral on both axis and tends not to feel strongly towards any alignment, or actively seeks their balance.

Chaotic Neutral
A chaotic neutral character is an individualist who follows their own heart and generally shirks rules and traditions. Although chaotic neutral characters promote the ideals of freedom, it is their own freedom that comes first; good and evil come second to their need to be free.

Anytime one discusses Good it implies a consideration for Evil.
There are few that are truly evilly aligned. However, there are people that have an affinity for evil that overrides their good.
I married one.

Lawful Evil
A lawful evil character sees a well-ordered system as being easier to exploit and shows a combination of desirable and undesirable traits.

Neutral Evil
A neutral evil character is typically selfish and has no qualms about turning on allies-of-the-moment and usually makes allies primarily to further their own goals. A neutral evil character has no compunctions about harming others to get what they want, but neither will they go out of their way to cause carnage or mayhem when they see no direct benefit for themselves. Another valid interpretation of neutral evil holds up evil as an ideal, doing evil for evil's sake and trying to spread its influence.

My X loved to stir the pot at any chance she got, still does.
People like this are prone to self-destruct or cause problems for others. They are the rumor-mongers and manipulators. They cause problems to happen to those around them so they can feel better about themselves. You probably know of a few examples of people in your own life that are like this. You may have these traits and not even realize it. Its a world of denial, delusion and hatred.

Chaotic Evil
A chaotic evil character tends to have no respect for rules, other people's lives, or anything but their own desires, which are typically selfish and cruel. They set a high value on personal freedom, but do not have much regard for the lives or freedom of other people. Chaotic evil characters do not work well in groups because they resent being given orders and do not usually behave themselves unless there is no alternative.

You can find non-game related affinity examples on many websites. Any creative writing site delves into the discipline. I'm sure there is a psychological mandate that explains it but I find the game description is the easiest for me to understand.

Good and evil is also dependent on the witness. How you see good in people is directly related to your own alignment. You may see a good Samaritan as helping a blind person across the street. Someone else may see the same person as making a gesture to gain favorable benefits from a love interest that witnesses the good deed. Many charitable contributions are of a similar notion.