@mgorny@social.treehouse.systems What I’ve learnt in 60 years: Most people are good, friendly and decent (though politeness varies a little). You can usually spot truly malicious people very quickly, and then there’s no doubt about it. However, as long as you’re not sure, you should always assume that it’s just a misunderstanding. In my country, there’s also a lovely saying for when someone has made a mistake: ‘Don’t assume malice when it could simply be stupidity or inexperience’. Yes, it can sometimes be disappointing when you start off assuming that the other person is a good person ... On the other hand, you get on well with the vast majority of people. The older I got, the better I became at judging people, and that helped me to become increasingly optimistic. (And yes, even in ‘Western’ countries there are stepfathers who tell you that you’re useless and worthless … but you mature best through personal contact with other people).