Jane Austen famously taught us in her immortal classic Pride and Prejudice that we can't always judge other people based on our first impressions of them.
As there is every chance we might have just caught someone on a bad day... or didn't know the bigger story of what they were dealing with when we met them.
Of course, every now and then, some people prove to be the jerks we thought them to be when we first met them.
Sometimes, we don't even need to properly meet them to tell them they are not the sort of people anyone wants to make friends with.
Redditor waterheuhu was curious to hear what people considered the dead giveaways that a person is someone to be avoided at all costs, leading them to ask:
"What are some of the signs someone is a horrible person deep down?"
But Enough About Me, What Do YOU Think About Me?
"The Narcissist's Prayer: "
"That didn’t happen."
"And if it did, it wasn’t that bad."
"And if it was, that’s not a big deal."
"And if it is, it is not my fault."
"And if it was, I didn’t mean it."
"And if I did. "
"You deserved it."- FreshFondant
"I dunno if it would qualify a person as horrible; however, I find it frustrating when a person is talking to someone, and no matter what he or she talks about, they always put themselves at the center of the conversation."
"My aunt is like this."
"I remember when my dad got really sick and was in the hospital for a month, when she talked to him or others, it was always about how she felt about my dad's sickness, not remotely concerned about how he felt."- level 1NMPR_1564
Trifecta Of Terror
"No sense of accountability."
"It's never their fault."
"And if it is, no it isn't."
"Entitlement or self-importance."
"They're always the most important person."
"No one else's successes or problems are as big as theirs."
"No one's story is as interesting as theirs is so of course you want to listen to them."
"If someone has shown they don't take 'no' well, in any capacity, no matter how politely you've tried to express it or how many compromises you try to make."
"If they are not safe to say 'no' to, they are probably a bad person."- maximum_confusion
Or Do They?
"Several of their adult children will not talk to them, and they 'don't understand why'."- Voldemortina
I Just Dont Understand Tony Shalhoub GIF by The Marvelous Mrs. MaiselGiphy
Is Nastiness Born In You?
"I teach Kindergarten, and rarely and certainly not frequently have I encountered children who truly take pleasure in hurting other children physically or emotionally."
"It’s super disturbing to see that type of behavior out of a child so young- especially since most children this age are overly empathetic and emotional."- lokeilou
Better To Have An Impossible Dream Than No Dream At All
"Always remember: misery LOVES company."
"A person is horrible when they constantly belittle you for your ambitions and goals."
"Tell you that you are not capable, and that is too hard for you."
"If a dream does not scare you, it is not big enough."- sparklingprosecco
Try Picking On Someone Your Own Size
"Observe how they treat vulnerable persons."
"Anyone who wants to make someone else’s misfortune worse is miserable inside."- traumakidshollywood
homer simpson blame GIFGiphy
There's Dark Humor, And Then There's Cruelty...
"Someone recently made fun of me (repeatedly) for having a dead father."
"Some people are just born with black holes in the space where the rest of us keep our souls."- EchidnaFearless7117
"Brutally Honest", Or Just Plain Brutal?
"People who say cruel things under the guise of being 'brutally honest'."
"Seems like they usually just like the brutal part since you can be honest with someone but still use tact to convey your point."- Icy_Stable9059
Some Friend They Turned Out To Be...
"When your best friend of almost 40 years hears you have cancer and just ‘oh well. You’ll be ok’ and then never hearing from them again."
"It’s been almost 2 years since I was diagnosed and haven’t heard from her once."- Fistandantalus
Season 8 Nbc GIF by The OfficeGiphy
All Creatures Great And Small
"Being mean to animals."
"You have to be a horrible piece of sh*t on the inside to hurt an animal that only wants you to love it."- pepperglenn
Their Pants Deserve To Be On Fire
"Compulsive liar, deceitful and shady behavior then putting it back on you when they’ve been found out."
"I can never move past the disgust I feel for someone of that character."
"The worst type of person."- StormzysMum
When People Are Just Trying To Do Their Job
"If they treat service industry people poorly."
"A person who’s nice to you and a d*ck to the bartender isn’t a nice person."- ExcellentPay6348
Fail Music Video GIF by FOURCEGiphy
Stooping Low Will Never Pull You Up
"Putting down others in order to build themselves up."- havereddit
Just About Says It All
"Badmouthing their children."- fyyuuuuuuuuu
It's always the kind thing to do to give someone the benefit of the doubt, as well as a second chance.
On the other hand, as the late great Maya Angelou so aptly stated: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time".
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter