Why do some people think kindness is a sign of weakness ? Do you feel this way?

I don’t think it’s a sign of weakness at all, I think it’s common sense. If anything, not being kind is a sign of being threatened, which is a sign of weakness.

Being unkind is a sign of weakness.

No…People that think that way always have a funny look on their face when kind people turn unkind.

I do not feel kindness is a sign of weakness. I also do not see a need or reason to treat anyone else badly; that is a sign you are only retaliating in kind, going to their level – it serves no real purpose.

It’s nice to be nice :)

kindness has nothing to do with weakness…weakness is fear…everyone fears something be it harm to the family, the dark, personal phobias fear is what drives people to do irrational things during severe circumstances…you want to see true fear mess with a man and his family. Fear will raise its its head and show weakness!

I have never heard of such a thing. Do they mean you easily get taken advantage of? I can maybe see this in relation to my family situation with some of my in-laws. I continue to do nice things for them, and they continue to be awful to me at times. My husband would argue I should not make any efforts to do anything special for them. He probably perceives my kindness as setting myself to be dumped on and hurt, and my desire for them to like me (which is waning by the way) just lets them take advantage of me and maybe one could argue shows weakness. If they perceive my desire to make nice and be kind, they have the power in the relationship.

Cruel is cool and pseudo-intellectual. You can’t get hurt if you hurt first. But then there are those of us who just can’t pretend not to care. We are naive and unrealistic, I’ll admit that, but also it’s a reaction that can’t be helped.

I was taught that.

The person who taught me that always felt put upon and unable to set boundaries with people. She never said “No,” and some people always took advantage of that. In their faces she was all smiles and “No problem!”, but behind their backs she would bitterly complain and tell me not to be nice to people, or else they’ll take advantage of you. OTOH, she expected everyone she asked a favour of to give in right away and was surprised when she got pushback from violating people’s boundaries.

Oy. It took me a long time to recognize that I didn’t have to expect everyone else in the world to be like her or the people who took advantage of her (there were a lot!), and that I could be kind, yet set boundaries and that was all OK.

People who have lived in a sea of animosity and adversity may feel this way. Kindness is never weak.

It suits their agenda. They prefer to think of it that way for any number of reasons. Some like to think they manipulated you into your kindness. Some like to think you are a phony because almost every time they act kind it is indeed an act. Some people think all people are naturally greedy and if they aren’t there must be something wrong with them