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How could we recognize a bad person? Culture and, in particular, cinema, give us a lot of advice, but they often turn out to be absolutely unusable in real life. After all, stereotyped scoundrels, with a look from under their brows and an ominous laugh, exuding evil with their whole appearance, practically do not occur in reality.

On the contrary, a really bad person, rather, will be incredibly pleasant in communication, will do everything to ingratiate themselves with you - and then, when they reach their goal, they will definitely do something harmful to you. But there is a wonderful science of psychology, and it helps, by the smallest, seemingly invisible at first glance, signs, to determine that you are dealing with someone who is not as good as they seem.

A thread starter appeared on the AskReddit community just one day ago, asking the question: "What is a subtle sign someone isn't a good person?" The result is over 15.4K upvotes and approximately 9.2K various comments. Now it will definitely be much more difficult for the villains to ingratiate themselves with us!

Bored Panda has compiled for you a selection of the most popular and useful tips from the original thread. Therefore, feel free to read, scroll to the very end, leave your own comments - and may bad people never cross your life path!

More info: Reddit

#2

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Littering. It's not a violent act or anything, but it does indicate a lack of respect that usually carries into other aspects of the person's life.

BeskarVagina , charcoal soul Report

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DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I posted this here a while back. I once threw a cup outside the car window when I was a really young kid and it haunted me for years. I have never littered since that day. It was so culturally accepted I never questioned it as a kid.

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#3

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group How they treat people in the service industry. When they act like they are better than waiters, fast food employees, or retail workers.

Admiral_Fancypants , Quinn Dombrowski Report

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Bmo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I refuse to go out to a meal with someone like this. One I get embarrassed and 2, I feel that I need to stand up for the worker.

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Chris Hutchinson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As far as I'm concerned, anyone that brings me caffeine and cake is one of my favourite people!

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The Doom Song
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Retail worker here. Ex bartender and wait staff. I get treated like c**p all the time. My favourite was a lady who yelled at me coz her kids were asleep when I brought the kids meals out... at 9pm and they had been there since 5pm. I let her yell at me for 10 minutes and simply said "how is it my fault you waited this long to order the kids dinner?"

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Hill Branda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A person who is not nice to people who serve or assist them is NOT a nice person. If they are only nice because they HAVE TO be, it means they are by nature cruel and unkind. Run from them as fast as you can.

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I treat everyone with respect. I've done a few "unpopular" jobs like that. At the end of the day, they're just people trying to earn a living, find their niche career, do whatever job they can get. Unless the person is a real d**k and not taking a no for an answer, getting lippy or way too aggressive. There's no reason for someone to be a douchebag just because their doorbell was rung or phone was called.

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MygrandsonscallmeNia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cleaned homes for 20+ years I also had my own cleaning service. I started wearing scrubs, because I could carry cleaning supplies in the front pockets of the shirt. Paper towels, dust rag, etc.. Until I started doing that, and people would ask what I did for a living, I got the; your gross look. Most people thought I was a nurse with my scrubs on, and didn't ask what I did for a living. I made, $10-$20 an hour. I could clean 3 homes a day. I would walk home with $75-$100 a day! I was making $500+ a week! I hired help, she made $200+ a week. People may look down their nose at a housekeeper, but I made more money than most people.

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Michelle C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad is like this and I hate going out to dinner with him whenever he and my grandmother want to get together with my sibling and me. I have definitely apologized to service industry workers before for his behavior and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if I needed to say something.

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Maisey Myles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a date with an a-hole once who belittled our server. I was boiling mad and embarrassed. When he went to get the car, I slipped her an extra tip

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Sergio Bicerra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand waiters and retail workers arenoverwhelmed and sometimes mess up, but as insay 'the time i becone perfect, i will demand perfection' and i'm veeery far from that. Tbh, i would be a very bad waiter: bad memory and bad balance, and reflexes of a rock.

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ItsYourTurn2ChangeTheLitterBox
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Going into a store and trashing it. Not Putting things where you got it from when u decide that you don't want it anymore, leaving your drinks and snacks on the shelves, yelling at workers who can't find specific items that are listed in stock because some customer has taken it and then dumped it off in a totally different aisle/section, etc.. Surprising fact: it is NOT a retail worker's job to pick up the customers leave trails of destruction. Their job is to stock shelves, tidy up their sections, provide assistance as needed. We can't do that if we're too busy finding misplaced items and cleaning up diapers and open drinks and chicken from the grocery section that someone dumped on a random towel shelf. It's just so disrespectful and self-centered.

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Christi Brown
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Golden Rule: Never disrespect the person who cooks, plates or serves your food. You have been warned and you are welcome.

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Hagen Radcliffe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THAT’S the perfect word I’ve been searching for ! Despicable hits it on the head for ignorant, rude, entitled, disgusting humans!

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Sheepdude
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If anything service workers are probably better than most people. The amount of mental fortitude needed to do that for minimum wage is incredible.

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Clover
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have a tough job. Why not make their day a little bit better by being nice?

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Mjolnir Stormbreaker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I won't even take from other diners mistreating people in the service industry.

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Carpe Noctem
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh and there are so many of them! Moms with children who want you to do EVERYTHING for them.Business people who can afford the suits,the watch,the car,but not the fancy restaurants and look past you as if you aren't worth so much as a glance.

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Jamyi Lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Short of the food being literally vandalized I would never even say anything at all about it. Those people have got to be on autopilot so if they put pickles on it I do not care

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GlamPilot
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went out to lunch with some friends last year and one of them was rather rude to our server. After she took our drinks order, I lots him he was being incredibly rude, to be nicer and also to apologize for speaking to her the way he did. He did indeed apologize. But had never realized he was rude to service staff. I’m not afraid to call someone out if they’re being a bit of a douche for no reason.

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robin aldrich
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolute deal breaker...Having spent a lot of time in the service industry I find that the people there are invisible until it's time to rage at them about something...

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Gizmo TeknoDekkeR
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't get me started here... The way people speak to us is unreal... We handle your food... Just saying...

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#4

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Their treatment of the weakest members of society including defenceless animals, the homeless and those in low service positions.

vidalotus , Eli Christman Report

#5

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Not owning up to their mistakes and always attributing it to someone or something else.

tiredandsad1 , Danko Münzel Report

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DrBronxx
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"if everyone around you is the problem, maybe you're the problem"

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#6

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group They don’t put the shopping cart in the designated area and leave it randomly in the parking lot.

peanutbrittle2018 , 7C0 Report

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#7

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group They have a habit of talking bad about other people behind their backs and spreading gossip and rumor. You can tell a lot about a person by observing how they talk about their peers behind their back.
When a person occasionally vents by talking bad about someone (like their boss, or classmate) because of some unpleasant experience, that's okay. We all do it. But when a person habitually talks s**t about people behind their back, that's a big red flag.

HopelessDude96 , Carl Nenzén Lovén Report

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LittlePiggie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mama always taught me if they gossip to you behind others' backs, they'll gossip about you behind your back.

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#8

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group When they talk about themselves then stop listening when u talk about yourself

Chronicl-ill-Daniel , Jason Lander Report

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#9

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group They believe that respect is earned but demand it immediately from you.

GrilledCheeser , Pedro Ribeiro Simões Report

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those who say that are power trippers and place themselves so high up on a pedestal they think they're royalty. A lot of gangster wannabes and drug dealers act like that.

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#10

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Casual unnecessary lying

Dense_Composer_8479 , Jean-Etienne Minh-Duy Poirrier Report

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JelliTate
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Insecurity. Takes a LONG time to get it out of your system. (The lying I mean.)

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#11

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group When they see someone else's progress or success as a threat.

Aggravating_Gift_520 , Luke Jones Follow Report

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Ronda News Channel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found a quote in my native language that means 'Happy with someone's trouble and annoyed with someone's success.'

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#12

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group I've learned that when someone is claiming to be really "direct" or "blunt" or "honest" it is often a self justification for being controlling and rude.

VerkinGhettoRex , A Healthier Michigan Report

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Doctor Strange
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those who claim to be brutally honest are usually more interested in the 'brutal' than the 'honest'. It is entirely possible to be honest without being brutal.

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#13

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group All their exes are crazy and nothing negative is ever their fault.

forestfairygremlin , Christopher Bowns Report

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Hill Branda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If all their exes are crazy, you have wonder why they kept choosing to date crazy people.

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#14

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group When they don't say things like thank you or please.

I just automatically assume people are a**holes when they can't do these basic, easy acts of kindness.

Maco1ycyx , Panos Sakalakis Report

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Bmo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A few times I've had to repeat myself when I've said Thank You to someone and they don't respond at all. Takes just a moment to respond.

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#15

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Passively aggressively insulting you in front of a group of people in such a way that you can’t say anything back without looking like you’re the emotional one even though you know that they intentionally insulted you to disrespect you.

HackTheNight , Chris Fithall Report

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's sad our emotions are policed like this. F**k it. Get upset. Cry if you want to. Don't laugh. Our emotions are ours. Own them. The only reason people hate seeing you emote your true feelings is because it makes them uncomfortable. It makes them uncomfortable because they don't feel they're allowed to express their feelings outwardly, and don't believe anyone else should either. That's their problem. Don't allow them to make their problem your problem. They can leave any time.

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#16

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group The common denominator. They fall out with people all the time but it’s always the other persons fault or family members don’t talk to them but that’s not their fault because they’ve done nothing wrong.
It’s never them, it’s always everyone else is out to get them or is unreasonable, yet they’re the only common denominator in all the situations with all these supposedly shitty people

Well_red_1431 , Pille Kirsi Report

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup. Much of these are someone I know to a 'T'. I'm beginning to think she's not a very good person.

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#17

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group They demand forgiveness instead of asking for it.

"I said I was sorry, it's done now. Get over it."

MaliciousPorpoise , cottonbro Report

#19

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group They share private information about others with you

RaeDeclin , del mich Report

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DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes, That's private for a reason. The only people I confide in are my closest friends.

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#20

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Doesn’t help other people unless it benefits themself

ERICxCARTMAN , Joe Shlabotnik Report

#21

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group They always have to be the victim

TheMightySweater , Keenan Constance Report

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JMil
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who constantly play the victim card are hard to be around. Do tell, what went wrong today and who is at fault? Never you, of course.

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#22

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Regular putdowns that are disguised as "jokes"

EDIT: I think I need to be more clear here. I'm talking about "jokes" that they either carry on long after everyone else has stopped, or alternatively legit insults that they will *only* claim is a joke if you get upset.

yeetgodmcnechass , Chris Hunkeler Report

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TheAquarius1978
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is desgusting, and this comming from a guy with a pitch black sence of humor, many Times a put myself down to promote a laugh ( fell free to check my comenta if in doubt ) i Mock myself before mocking someone else.

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#23

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group If they’re dismissive of what you have to say or want to share.

MarvelousJoe , Rui Fernandes Report

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JMil
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dominating the conversation. That look in their eyes when you know they aren't listening (in the rare moments they aren't talking) but only waiting for themselves to interject and talk again (usually about themselves).

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#24

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group A lot of these are kind of blatant. To me a really subtle clue is when people are unable to be happy for others the moment things go wrong with their own life. Less obvious than people who fail to empathize with pain, and also less obvious than people who dismiss or minimize accomplishments, but ultimately indicative of the same empathy deficiency. Specifically in acquaintanceships and close friendships.

“I don’t want to hear about your fiancé proposing to you when my boyfriend just dumped me” sucks, and so does “Your fiancé proposed after 3 years and you’re going on a Hawaii honeymoon? That’s so nice for you sweetie, mine proposed after 2 years and we went on a tour around Europe for 3 months”


“I don’t care about your divorce because I’ve been through 3 divorces” is obviously a s**tty attitude, and “I care about your feelings about this divorce even though I’m also divorced” is basic decency.

What I look for (and try very hard to be) sounds like:

“I’m happy that you are experiencing career success even though I am unhappy at my job”

-I’m able to hear your joy without my eyes glazing over + my mind wandering to my apartment’s ant issue.

“If I compare myself to you this is painful to hear, but really what that means is you’re experiencing wonderful things, which I want for you”

“Even though I’m cold and hangry, I’m not going to bring anyone else’s mood down.”

ScheherazadeSmiled , SevenStorm JUHASZIMRUS Report

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Luna Crow
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, “I don’t want to hear about your fiancé proposing to you when my boyfriend just dumped me” ... So, we're putting all of the "suck it up and be nice" on the person experiencing a hardship? Shouldn't the happy person who wants to share maybe also take some responsibility in sharing in appropriate avenues? I wouldn't insist on showing pictures of my new puppy to someone whose dog just died, for example

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#26

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group “Only God can judge me” tattooed anywhere on their body. I should’ve known…….

Emergency_Brain902 , Matheus Ferrero Report

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think "Only Dog can judge me" is better, and dogs are good judges of ppl

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#27

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group When you’re going out and they judge or make a rude comment about a random person passing by.

kilmock , Keira Burton Report

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Bmo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband and I will say these sorts of things to each other as a joke but wouldn't fathom actually saying it to these strangers. We're just being jerks to crack each other up.

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#28

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group someone who is incapable of reflecting. They are the centre of their own universe. They are unable to grasp the big picture or how they fit within it. Everyone has a place in the larger picture, which is their small view of the world.

No_Maximumdse , Toms Baugis Report

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Stephanie Did It
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And everyone/everything else exists only to serve their purpose or to oppose them.

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#29

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group They try too hard to prove they’re a good person.

hottaxidermy , GeorgeTan#1...Off permanently Report

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Bmo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they feel the need to post any sort of charity work on social media, immediate red flag. You can do charity work and it still counts even if no one knows about it.

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#30

30 Not-That-Obvious Signs That Show That Someone Isn’t A Good Person, As Shared In This Online Group Always blaming others for things that happen to them, and not putting the trolley back after they are done with it.

Carlosthefrog , My Photo Journeys Report

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TheAquarius1978
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea lol, funny thing, trolleys here are "paid" all the trolleys are chained toguether and you have to depósit a 1€ coin in order to release the chain, só 95%of people take their trolleys back, and if they don't lol, theres always kids looking for " Lost " trolleys in the parking lot.

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