What Do You Think?

[GurlRusz]

Why are some people mean and hateful while others are kind and forgiving?

I have met some really mean and hateful people who are always negative. They hold grudges for everything and hold them a long time. They always pick fights, make fun, and are a very mean sarcastic.

On the other hand there are very kind people who are very positive and helpful. They hardly ever hold a grudge and forgive all the time. They avoid fights and arguments, get along with nearly everyone, and laugh all the time at everything. They crack jokes and lighten any mood.

It confuses and stuns me to see people being so mean and hurtful to one another.

What causes people to hate, kill and hold grudges?

[troach]

Sadly the very people that are often the cruellest to others are the very ones that will say how kind they are. And that any aggressiveness is justified for whatever reason they come up with. A lot of people I really don’t think even realize what they are doing or have done.

Obviously, environment, culture, genetics, how we were raised, etc. all play a part. But even people that were raised in very cruel environments have somehow come out to be kind and gentle. Then there is the reverse where a person was raised in a very kind and loving environment yet the person turns out to be selfish and cruel. Of course there are also a lot of physiological and medical reasons/conditions that could be debated.

However, I think the simplest and best answer I have ever heard for your question was a story of a young boy and an Old Indian chief:
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A young boy went to an Old and Wise Indian Chief and asked, "Why are some people good and some people evil?"

The Chief replied, "My Child in each of us there are two wolves one kind and gentle the other cruel and vicious constantly battling each other trying to be the dominate wolf in control of us."

The child thought about this for a moment then asked, "Which one wins the fight?"

The Wise Chief replied, "That is simple my child. The wolf we choose to feed."