What makes a good person a good person to you & what makes a person a bad person?

[LuvOrlando]

A lot of people have a notion of good or bad but what that means seems to be quite wiggly so I thought it might be interesting to see what other people think about the subject.

 

[Uncle Coaster]

To me it comes down to how they treat other people. If someone is good to the people around them then they are generally going to be a good person and unfortunately vice versa.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Deep question.

To me, a good person is someone who genuinely considers others—not just in what they say, but in how they act. They show kindness, empathy, and a generosity of spirit that uplifts the people around them. A good person takes responsibility for their mistakes and makes an effort to grow from them. They act with integrity, doing the right thing even when it's hard or when no one’s watching. They listen with intention, showing respect for different perspectives, and they value connection more than being right. At the heart of it, a good person leaves others better than they found them—through their words, their support, or even just the energy they bring.

On the other hand, I don’t believe a bad person is simply someone who makes mistakes—we all do. But a bad person is someone who knowingly causes harm or manipulates others for personal gain. They often lack empathy and disregard how their actions affect others. Instead of taking responsibility, they lie, gaslight, or deflect when they’re called out. They may thrive on control, superiority, or diminishing others to elevate themselves. What makes someone truly bad, in my view, is when they consistently choose selfishness and cruelty over shared humanity, especially when they’re fully capable of making better choices.

 

[Disnsyncey]

well, just thinking.....there would be a minority of people when asked would claim for themselves to be "bad"....so most people do what is right in their eyes....

 

[BrianL]

One of the number one tip-offs for me is honesty. It's a key facet of a "good person" - there are other factors though.