Wanting to see the best in everyone is not a crime.
But sometimes it can be a hindrance.
Most of the time, it's a superpower.
But, there are less than stellar humans out there.
Redditor mountcoffee wanted everyone to discuss how we decipher the people are awful, so they asked:
"What are your minor red flags that you use see as a subtle but very indicative sign the other person is an a**hole?"
I give too many people the benefit of the doubt.
I need to discuss more red flags.
Nothing
Awkward Season 4 GIF by The OfficeGiphy"They are dismissive of people who can do nothing for them."
BRS023
"Major red flag, and it’s easy to tell if you get them out of a professional environment."
bowtrout
We make mistakes
"Never saying sorry. We are people. We make mistakes. And even if we didn't mean to, our words and behavior can hurt other people's feeling. Just say sorry and move on, it's not a big deal. But if someone is refusing to do so, it is a red flag to me."
Taiyo_K
"Well, there can be layers to it. My kids struggle mightily to ever admit fault and just apologize to each other when they’ve done something wrong. They think there’s some huge shame involved and for some reason it’s tough to shake them of that. Really, it’s the easiest thing in the world to say you’re sorry and move on, and they’re only slowly getting that."
Mikesaidit36
Repairs
"When they’re always the victim in conflicts with friends, coworkers, etc. people who have a capacity for self-reflection and owning their mistakes tell stories where they’re a**holes. Further, they’re able to talk about what they’d do differently or what they’ve learned, and how they took steps to repair the relationships. Never being at fault, always being the victim, and not taking responsibility for repair are huge red flags."
MrsDarcy1983
Talk Crap
"When they talk crap behind everyone's back but have what I like to call a sticky sweet personality to their face. I know some people like that."
EchoSpecial87
"I used to be in a group chat with a bunch of people who did exactly this at least once a week,. I genuinely believe a lot of people who use said fakea** sticky sweet personalities are doing it to soften the blow if someone actually has a problem with em. Because they think 'Ooooh but they're so nice! this is just a minor blemish on a really kind person' to someone who would throw them in the car crusher because their ac was too loud."
TheRockingGoomba
Guys and girls... you're all a mess...
The Company
Season 5 Friends Tv Show GIF by FriendsGiphy"What their friends are also like and how they interact with others/other people."
nazeem_ihateyou
Be Nice
"The Waiter Test. The person who is nice to you but isn't nice to the waiter isn't nice person. This also applies to cashiers, counter help, hotel clerks, custodians, security guards and everyone else in similar positions."
"HOWEVER, don't apply the waiter test the first time you meet someone. Wait until they've been around you a few times and are comfortable in their skin around you. The first few times they are on their best behavior."
AnybodySeeMyKeys
Talk to me...
"I live in Los Angeles so this happens a lot but basically whenever you talk to somebody, and it’s all about them all the time. You give your point of view or interject something about yourself and they immediately dismiss it and go back to them."
DonJuanDingdong
"Some people forget that a conversation is a two way street."
Pass_the_Lasagna
The Game
romantic lady and the tramp GIFGiphy"In an office environment, overly kissing all the managers a**es so they'll let them cut corners all the while calling other people out on minor things. They know how the game works."
psycharious
Slammed!
"When they know someone is behind them, but don't hold the door open. Just let it slam. Or don't say please & thanks to service workers. I understand sometimes missing the opportunity, but when it is consistent, I have been known to say something."
PokerQuilter
Look for the signs... they are there.
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below.
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay |
Famous people are normal people too.
There are countless videos and stories of famous people granting meetings and giving hugs and they're always heartwarming. So don't be afraid to say hi to your favorite high-profile personality if given the chance!
Redditor u/owen__wilsons__nose wanted to hear all about the times many of us have come face to face with the famous we love by asking:
Who's the most famous person you've interacted with?
Sometimes "nice" and "kind" don't perfectly align.
"Nice" often describes social politeness. We use the word to describe people that can talk the talk well enough to embody the image of a good person who thinks about others first and doesn't ever step on toes.
But is that always the best approach to interacting with others?
Sometimes kindness requires confrontation. A more active, direct demeanor can lead to more substantial and worthwhile connections with others.
A recent Reddit thread asked for the finest examples of people being "nice" without being "kind."
berkel-is-a-madlad asked, "What's something 'nice' people do, that juts pisses you off?"
Clogging Everything Up
"Letting me turn left at the stop sign when they're going straight. YOU WERE THERE FIRST JUST F***ING GO." -- collinnator5
"Rule of thumb when driving: Don't be polite; be predictable." -- DP_Lover
"Stopping in the middle of busy road to let a Jay Walker cross.." -- Grapesoda2223
Stalemate
"'Go ahead.'"
"'Oh, no, you go ahead.'"
"'It's cool, you go ahead.'" -- TheButtUglySwans
"The Canadian Standoff." -- MyNameThru
"There could be a wizard on the other side of that door! I'm not trying to be nice, I'm trying to save my hide!" -- SiroMPP
Too Much Hang Time Â
"Holding the door open for me when I'm more than 15 feet away from the door. Also the waving me through a stop sign when they have the right of way like mentioned earlier." -- Dinx81
"Don't break your pace. Hold your arm behind you if you think the next person can grab it in time, but otherwise just let it go. Doors aren't impossibly heavy anyway." -- UltimaCaitSith
"Also, in covid times, opening the door for me period. I do not know how to respond to this." -- MermaidRumspringa
Dishonest and EvasiveÂ
"I'm overweight. I hate it when people pretend I'm not overweight. It's totally fine if they think I'm pretty or attractive or simply not ugly despite or because of my weight, but they can't say I'm not." -- Silver-Thing2724
"I have some stick friends who are always like "gosh I'm so fat" and if I say anything about me being fat they go "omg nooo you're so skinny!!" like bruh I am visibly bigger than you pls stop" -- AdditionalBread1
Questionable Motives
"People who help those in need, but then feel the need to film it or post about it on social media. Why? Just help in private and stop humiliating them." -- future_nefertiti
"I used to work with someone that did this. So unbelievably annoying and only makes the person look worse." -- crazylittlemermaid
"Obligatory Steve Buscemi was a volunteer firefighter and helped during 9/11 but he made sure no one knew about it." -- Phil-Michaels
Let's Dial It Down a Notch
"Aggressive morning greetings. Ok hear me out on this. I understand it's 'polite' to greet people when you walk in to the office, but when I have headphones on and you aggressively say good morning over and over, louder and louder, until I have to respond, not cool."
"Just let me be."
-- Ahnamal
Please Hold All Applause Until the Very End
"When people feel the need to bless me with EVERY sneeze. I'll sneeze 5+ times and people will really start to get frustrated with me for having to say bless you too many times."
"Not even God himself can bless me that much!"
Thoughtful vs. NosyÂ
"I understand the reason and know they do it with the best intentions but ...the prying that some nice people do- learn how to take a hint and drop it." -- Maskholer
"That's kinda messed up, people who pry like that are not nice imo. A nice person would respect boundaries." -- olivermorning
Demanding Masked EmotionsÂ
"Harass me to smile. Does it look like my job to be the cheery background character to their life?" -- 3FoolsinaTrenchcoat
"Their premise appears to be that you are obliged to express yourself only in ways they find enjoyable."
"This is not the behavior of one who views another as an equal, IMO." -- JustAPerspective
Passivity Is Not an Asset
"Being spineless. Standing up for yourself and having opinions does not automatically make you a bi*** or a Karen."
"You can very politely disagree with people or ask for a store employee to fix an issue."
-- Altrano
Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Meeting your idols and favorite artists is a slippery slope. We always seem to forget that they are just normal people, who just happen to live fabulous and glorious lives; through the lens of the media machine of course. We don't know them personally, we just think we do. So it can be the greatest moment ever, or a soul crushing disaster when we finally come face to face with them.
Redditor u/TheBreadMan42069 wanted to hear about the famous faces they've encountered by asking... What celebrity have you met that was surprisingly nice/rude?"no it's okay my darling"
gordon ramsay masterchef GIFGiphyA lot of redditors mention Gordon Ramsay being lovely.
My godsister can confirm. She worked at a hotel restaurant in Cornwall where Ramsay vacations at regularly. She was so nervous she spilt something but he just gave her a really fatherly warm smile and went "no it's okay my darling" and continued on with his conversation.
When I was a kid, my family took a trip to London and we were shopping in Harrod's. Being the kid I was, I was running around while my parents shopped. I ran up to this man, looked up and said "you look REAAAAAAAALLY familiar. Have we met?" And he flashes a smile and says "no, but I get that a lot" and then he walks off. My dad came right over and went "... you do realize that was mr bean you just spoke to right?"
Good Ole Louie....
Lewis Black is freaking awesome. I was in Vegas with some buddies Veterans Day weekend and we spotted him playing craps. I stood near him and watched because a) it's Lewis friggin Black and b) I've never played craps so I had no idea what was going on. He noticed me, asked if I knew how to play. I said I didn't and he immediately spent $200 teaching me how to play craps and wouldn't let me put any of my own money down since I was learning.
We chatted, he asked what we were doing in Vegas and we mentioned celebrating the Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day. He thanked us profusely for our service and asked if we wanted tickets to his show the following night. I'm a bigger fan than my friends were so I said yes I'd love to come see his show. He said he would leave tickets for me at will call. My sister met up with me the next day and we were super pumped about the show, but joked that it was too good to be true and there wouldn't actually be tickets waiting for us.
Sure enough, Lewis Black is a man of his word and left me four free tickets at will call, and not only that but they were good tickets, like third row center. He put on a great show and I will forever enthusiastically support him. He made great conversation, was patient and kind teaching me to gamble on his own dime, and kept his promise of tickets for me. A+ guy, despite his angry ranting comedic style.
Opposites....
I met Leonard Nemoy at different times. Leonard was incredibly cool. He was giving a talk at the place where I work and we all knew he was coming so we sat at a table outside near the entrance so we could see when he arrived. His security people led him from the car to the building and we said hello as he passed.
They took him inside to a private green room to relax before he went on. To our surprise, after the handlers dropped him off at the green room he came back outside, sat down with us and just hung out, we talked about food and cool places to see nearby. We just chatted like he was one of the crew. Class act guy. One of the neatest celebrity encounters I've had.
Oh course he is....
sexy jeff goldblum GIFGiphyI don't think anyone one would be surprised that Jeff Goldblum is nice, but I can attest to it.
I was an extra in a movie with him. When he arrived on the scene, some nasty film crew woman was screaming at us not to bother him or ask for his autograph (which none of us had done). He must have heard her, because he turned right around and came over to talk to us.
Movie Marathon
Back when they were filming Lord of the Rings all the hobbits: Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee), Billy Boyd (Peregrin Took), and Dominic Monaghan (Meriadoc Brandybuck), came into my mom's video store and wanted to rent all of Peter Jacksons movies. They were so excited to have a movie marathon I thought it was super cute.
Edit: They were nice. :)
Hey Girl....
Paris Hilton - I didn't meet her in person. But I worked for an airline answering phones as a supervisor. She called in to change her itinerary on New year's Day years ago when she was very much in the public eye. It would have been about 3:00 a.m. where she was, and I could hear the party going on in the background. She was my very first call of the morning where I was on the east coast. 7:00 a.m.
I was hungover as hell, and in no mood to be at work. She was absolutely the nicest person to deal with. She was really sweet and patient, she made small talk while I changed her reservation and seemed genuinely kind. I was pleasantly surprised.
Hey Hugh
Its pretty well established that he's nice, but Hugh Jackman is one of the nicest human beings I've ever encountered.
A friend of mine went to the premiere of X-Men Origins Wolverine and they camped out by the theater, he said he woke up and he was told that Hugh Jackman had bought everyone who camped breakfast. It was a little breakfast sandwich and an orange juice I believe, he also said there was at least 100 people there.
Staying Fresh
Will Smith Applause GIFGiphyWill Smith
I worked a private event for him a couple years back. He made sure to thank each and every employee when he arrived and before he left. He had the best manners and was in such a jovial mood, joking around with the staff. Great guy.
Wicked Nice
Met Vincent Price when I was a kid. He was speaking at the college where my parents worked and since our house was next to the auditorium we usually hosted the meet and greets. I was only supposed to be allowed in with the grownups long enough to say hello but when I blurted out how much I liked scary movies he stopped to talk. He was extraordinarily patient and kind to a nine year old kid who just wanted to talk monster movies and show off his monster dioramas.
Good AL
weird al yankovic stare GIFGiphyI work in the film industry.
Weird Al is insanely freaking nice. Like, you ask him for a photo and he'll make a 10 second video for your dad nice.
Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
They say a diamond is forever. But is it just a saying or is there a modicum of truth to that?
Gifts are meant to aid or to lift the morale of the receiver, if they're done well. A good gift will completely re-tool the life of the person it's given to and it will stay that way.
But which gifts are the ones that truly last?
u/nateabe6 asked:
"What is a gift that will last a lifetime?"
Here were some of those answers.
LĂmon
As silly as it may sound (and it needs space): a tree.
We were given a small lemon-tree ages ago, and each year got so many good lemons. A lemon-tree lives for about 50 years, so not necessarily a lifetime, but you get the idea ;-)
Fiscal Responsibility
Honestly, teaching someone financial responsibility. When I was 18, someone gifted me a class. I thought what a terrible gift. I'm nearing 24 now, and never been more grateful to that person.
Take A Look; It's In A Book
If they're a reader, a good book. They may only read it once, but the lessons and feelings of the journey will stay with them. If they're not a reader, still a good book is a good choice, just try to make it one they have a strong inherent interest in from the get-go.
Cawlidge
Debt free education. Was lucky to have a single mom that somehow supported me all the way through college. Cue multiple offers upon graduating, i had the power to walk away from any offer as there was no pressure to repay any loans. It gives you the confidence to play hardball in the interview, which vastly improves your prospects.
Changing Your Story
Love. Especially growing up with it. It really changes the way you see the world and how you treat others. My boyfriend came from a lovely family who care for him (and I) immensely. My family? Talk sh*t all the time, say rude things, and didn't give me all that much affection. He's confident, aware of emotions and them being valid, and lacks anxiety issues. I'm self conscious, feel guilty for showing certain emotions, and have bad anxiety issues. Love really does impact people, and its never to late to show it.
Multi Tool
A good knife.
It doesn't matter what type of knife it is or what its intended purpose is, be it a filleting knife for fishing, a blade on an expensive high quality multi-tool, a hunting knife, a (functional) decorative knife, a high quality kitchen knife or whatever else, a good, high quality blade - with proper care and maintenance - will last a lifetime.
How To Feed Myself
Teaching someone the basics of cooking!
Teaching myself to make eggs was the first step in my culinary adventure that started when I was a kid and is still continuing today. I taught my younger siblings how to cook basics like eggs and pasta and they've only improved since. My gf couldn't even turn on the stove when we got together (super spoiled kid growing up) so when she finally learned how, the first thing I taught her was scrambled eggs. She makes full, delicious meals now.
The Thought That Counts
Not very practical, but thoughtfully written cards. I have cards from friends, family, and teachers from years ago that I either keep in my top drawer or tape to my room walls because they're so nice. Whenever I'm feeling down (or at any other time tbh) I can re-read them and think of the good times I've shared with these people I love, some of whom I'll never see again.
Again, The Thoughts
My best friend of 5 years (now boyfriend/baby daddy) made me a bracelet when we first started dating and I haven't taken it off since. Every time I see it I remember him excitedly giving it to me and tying it around my wrist, it's hanging by a thread now and I'm gonna cry when it finally gives out
A Generation Of Food
Heirloom seeds, they can be saved and used to grow food and passed down from generation to generation. It's really sad to see how little variety there is in supermarkets. Tomatoes, and most vegetables in general, come in a variety of colours, sizes, and flavours. Some have been passed down for generations within families or tribes of indigenous people, but many heirlooms are dying out because supermarkets often favour more durable vegetables and fruits that withstand shipping.
A Note From Your Memories
I keep all handwritten cards from birthday/Christmas/ any occasion gifts. I've had a bunch from relatives that have passed away and I always love looking at them.
Makin' Memories
If they're a photographer, a manual focus lens. Probably a big old heavy FD lens from the 60s. I've got a 55mm f1.2 that's probably 40 years old and it still works great on my a7iii. Just as long as I don't let mold grow in it, it should last ages.
Takin' Pictures Is...
This might not sound as good like the others but if I were to give something that will last a lifetime, it is a photograph. The one taken from our greatest or happiest memories then write a message on the back of it. It could be a short message about that memory or what happened back then.
Happy Choppy
High quality kitchen knives.
My mother has used the same boning knife for years. She bought it when she started her acf apprenticeship and it's been with her ever since. Part of the Handle is melted but it is still a solid knife. Gotta love german steel. Twin henkels all the way. (Four star line)
I have one that I got when I was about to start culinary school, that I did use on a line for years and I have now retired it to home use only for now but it's still as sharp and is in used but perfect condition otherwise. (Pro s line)
But Only If It's A Hobby...
A nice rifle. If they're into that sort of thing, firearms are incredibly interesting and a very satisfying hobby. My dad bought me a pellet gun when I was 13 and while I don't shoot it anymore it stays on my wall and started me down a very fun rabbit hole of history science and simultaneously relaxing and exciting activity.
Crafty Love
Something they can use. I like giving functional gifts. I try for lessons or subscriptions or homemade stuff. I avoid gift cards when I can. I was gifted a knitting subscription and I can now do lace work so I keep in that general theme.