Do people think you're gullible just because you're nice?

United States
September 9, 2007 12:16pm CST
Do people think that you're gullible just because you are nice and don't start arguments? Do they assume you are an easy target, because you are pleasant and give them the benefit of the doubt? For years I've struggled with the stigma of being nice. I know that people around me are being deceptive, but it's hard to tell which ones are and which ones aren't. And, I can imagine often I appear to be gullible because I do not come right out and denounce people as liars to their face. Personally, I don't see why I have to change myself to be mean in order to deal with the sharks that swim around me. And, maybe I couldn't change myself if I wanted to. Do you think it's really possible to be an honest person with good intentions and not be seen as a target?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@ashsumi (29)
• India
10 Sep 07
hi....like u i also dont tell people to back off or am not rude to others....i also feel that sometimes people take undue avantage but i feel that u must not change urself...y should u change?????its the others who should understand that u are the nice one here and try ti change themselves
@ssf12ster (488)
• India
10 Sep 07
yes they thik i am gullible.they take ou for granted and that i think should not be allowed.but i tel them on thier face next time i meet how stupid they tried t make of me and i sometimes ask for an apology if they are wrong.need to nice most of the time o doubt .but takig things for ganted is ot good.
• United States
10 Sep 07
People always assume that I am gullible, but I am not. I just do not like to follow rules.
@sunshinecup (7871)
9 Sep 07
Do you think it's really possible to be an honest person with good intentions and not be seen as a target? Yes, cause while I am nice to all and try not to be mean, I will stand my ground or jerk a chain here & there when it comes down to it. So through rep people learn not to try to take advantage of me. I am soft spoken and treat everyone kindly, but push me and I am going to push back twice as hard.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I don't think people see as me as a target. I'm nice to almost everyone, but I never let people get close enough to put me in a situation I don't want to be in. I am definitely not gullible. They are few people that I believe. I can count the people on one hand that I trust. As for everyone else, if they tell me something that I don't believe, I might smile and nod. But it's because I don't care, not because I believe them. :) My best friend in high school was always saying "She doesn't agree with you, she just doesn't think the argument is worth her time!" anytime anyone said I agreed with them about something that she didn't think I would agree about. And in some ways it's true. I don't waste time arguing with people over silly things. But at the same time, I don't take anyone's word for anything. And I don't agree to do something just because someone asks me to.
@cmsk2005 (1770)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Yes it is very likely for people to be gullible if someone just become very polite and nice, do not want much argument. I have seen people around me trying to abuse me for this feature but i generally try to avoid those people and i don't want to get involved in those things, i just want to be like me whatever it is, i just try to avoid them
@GardenGerty (157047)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Not only a target, but a wimp. I get in that position a lot. I do not think I can really change myself, and people do take advantage because I let them. If I decide not to let them, and stand up for myself, then people become totally shocked. I bet that would be the response if you ever exhibited a mean streak. I have never thought of being nice as a stigma, but people do want to remind me that the real world is not that way. I think I will choose to continue to be nice, though. Just to give them something to talk about. I do think it is possible to be an honest person, and to have good intentions, but I believe that everyone is at one time or another a target.
• United States
9 Sep 07
There are some people out there that assume just because I'm quiet and that I sometimes help them out, that I can be used for many a thing. And, well they're pretty wrong. I can judge people pretty nicely and I don't full around when it comes to that sort of thing. I mean, if I can tell that I'll be put into a situation that I don't care for, I'm not going to put up with it. There's just no point in putting myself into that situation when I know it will exist anyway. I'd rather save myself the trouble, and at least these people realize I'm not a sucker and I'm not going to fall in line like all the others they've used before me.