Is it easier for people to be mean-spirited rather than kind-hearted?
338038
Yes. Because you dont give away anything physically.
664525
people are not assertive enough, a lot of people consider assertiveness the same as being aggressive or being mean so they would just rather be walked all over
162043
Absolutely. No doubts about it. It is our greedy nature combined with unnecessary aggression that makes life difficult for us and others also. If there is no greed then people won't  be aggressive, if they are not aggressive then they won't hurt others. However, it is human nature to be greedy and that can't be avoided. The best way is to channelise it in a positive way (easier said than done).
423196
You can be assertive and kind at the same time.  You do not have to sacrifice kindness to get things done.  And in fact, from the things I've read, it is my understanding that a nice boss gets more work out of his employees than a mean one.  He has to be firm, but he doesn't have to be mean.
370732
Is it really that hard to behave?
656490
The good news: yeah we all feel this way.  The other good news: there's a way to get your way, get people to move their lazy asses, and not come off sounding rude, obnoxious, or like a psycho crank from hell.  All these answers have one thing in common: passive-aggressive hostility, bordering on actively aggressive hostility, with a more than a dash of sarcasm and verbal abuse thrown in as well. (Shoving a sausage up someone's vagina?  That's rape, and that's sick, sad and WRONG.)  \n\nI'd be surprised if anyone actually did what you wanted them to do if you address them so rudely and disrespectfully.  And there's a possibility you could get yourself beaten up or killed if you keep going the way you are going.  I suppose it all depends on whom you say this to as well.  Do you speak this way to a 300-lb leather-clad motorcycle dude, or an older man who's taller than you, or just to women and children and homeless guys down on their luck?  \n\nPeople since ancient times have been decrying "O tempora! O mores!" (O the times, o the behavior!)  We all want what we want when we want it, and not all of us are enlightened, sympathetic, empathetic or upstanding enough to think of ourselves and others at the same time.  Given that, it is up to the individual to uphold the social contract NO MATTER if other people do or not.  If you know to do good and don't do it, you are no better than the people you criticize.  In fact, by being rude, mean and obnoxious, you may be much worse than these people.  Everyone, after all, makes mistakes, has a bad day, forgets.  YOU make mistakes.  YOU have bad days.  YOU forget.  No one -- including you -- is perfect.\n\nI recommend The Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith.  The book is titled _Anyway_.  Some gems include: People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.  Love them anyway.  If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.  Do good anyway.  If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.  Succeed anyway.  The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.  Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.  Be honest and frank anyway.  \n\nAnd by the way, "frank" here doesn't mean honesty and telling it like it without tact or discretion or feeling for others.  It means being honest with sensitivity, compassion and empathy.\n\nLike my momma always told me, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.  Peace, K
247772
interesting...happy maybe not.  Could you mean kind or nice people..many times they just dont try to control as much
673394
If you have to walk away because someone is being rude, that's the speaker's fault, not the listener's.  If someone is the speaker and makes a point of offending people by being 'honest', then they are rude and unthoughtful, not honest.  \n\nIn a world that is blending more and more, people should be diplomatic rather than confrontational.  Sure, we have freedom of speech, but you have to pay the price if you offend someone with it.  Being mean isn't a badge of honour, it's a sign of vileness and being an arrogant bully.  \n\nSure, people are going to be offended, because we can't always please everybody.  But to not even make the attempt to be tolerant or understanding, is asking for confrontation and possibly violence.  \n\nI guess if honesty is the best policy, kids should never be told of Santa Claus, they should be told they suck at soccer even though they love it, and we should act on every desire and emotion.
285288
I don't think that's necessarily true.  People are just more sensitive about "negative" comments.  Even comments that aren't considered insults (i.e. "Asians are smart") still carry with them a certain level of prejudice.  However, people sure do seem more accepting of comments that don't seem negative.
1125006
Who knows? I try to be nice and friendly to everybody,but some people are just plain nasty.
752329
It makes you willing to let other people set the tone for your encounter with them. It is a valid social strategy unless  you allow them to upset you for longer than the encounter or the other person is violent.\n\nBe mild with the mild, shrewd with the crafty, confiding to the honest, rough to the ruffian, and a thunderbolt to the liar. But in all this, never be unmindful of your own dignity.\n-John Brown
757238
People may be unhappy at first, but unpleasantness toward one another takes a lot of negative effort.  Effort that most people do not have the energy to focus on in the long run.  Amicability (if that's a word?) will come in time.
1019348
I do think that I would be considered a "nice" person, only if you don't ask my kids.  I have been told that I am a mean mom, because of the discipline or making them do something they don't want to do...like clean their room...LOL!  \n\nI try to be pleasant with everyone.  I try to be civil with those that might have rubbed me the wrong way, because I know that we all have bad days or whatnot.  I teach my children that they do not have to like everybody, but they still need to be nice.  Just because they do not like a person, it does not give them permission to be rude.  If they are having a problem with someone, try to talk it out, then if it is unresolvable, stay away from them.  Easier on everybody.  If someone on the other hand is threatening them in any way, they need to get away form the threatening person.  \n\nI believe in the things that I'm teaching my kids, and follow this myself.  So I think that I would be in that nice category.  But there are those times, unfortunately, that need a bit more force, but still I try to be as nice as I can.
31873
baby, some people are just plain mean. they are not good people and you should not take their character flaws personally. try not to take it to heart. ignore them if possible. some people outgrow meanness and see the error of their ways and become good people, others, i'm sorry to say, leave this world as mean as the lived. don't be one of them! be one of the good guys. hang in there. you'll end up the better person.
854587
Being nice is harder if I genuinely don't want to be.\n\nI have a bumpersticker.\n\n"Recovering Biatch, I try to be nice one day at a time."\n\nPeace.
128171
Not everyone is a bit#h. I'm not. I try to be nice and help people. You shouldn't generalize like that because some of us do care.
499964
no way. lol, i'll be honest. i consider myself a pretty mellow guy, and i'm usually the type to try and make a deflectionary comment rather than an insult. but if it gets bad enough, i'm gonna start saying stuff, and it comes out fast and is usually accompanied by me setting my shoulders and clenching my fists. lol, i hate to get that way, but i'm not perfect.