Being a “good person” isn’t about rescuing puppies from burning buildings or donating half your paycheck to orphans in space. That’s great, sure—but the real test is what you do when no one’s watching and there’s nothing in it for you. That’s when the truth leaks out.
A good person is the human equivalent of a stage tech—making sure the mic works, the lights stay on, and nobody trips over a cable. No spotlight necessary, just quiet consistency. They hold the door open for someone, just because. They pick up trash that isn’t theirs and most importantly, they return the BLEEPING shopping cart to its BLEEPING home after using it.
They’re not perfect and can be complete jerks sometimes—but their default setting is kindness, not performance.
So how do you spot these undercover legends in the wild? Thanks to AskReddit via BuzzFeed.com, we get some answers!
- “When someone can admit to their mistakes, especially when there is nothing to gain.” —u/Narutophanfan1
- “They don’t broadcast that they’re a good person.” —u/InevitableNote3
- “How someone treats their mom has been a good litmus test for me.” —u/brinncognito
What else?