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Character Litmus Test

If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.  J.K. Rowling

Oh gosh is this the truth or what?!  Rowling provides a character litmus test in today's quote.  It is not an accurate way to view someone by how they treat people they think are equal to them on whatever level they are using as that equalizer.  The accuracy of someones character is in how they treat people that don't reach that level of equalizing.  And we all have some level we have created. People that we meet we place into categories: they meet us on the same level (i.e. we are equal), they don't reach the level or they are above the level.  
If we really want to know about OUR true character as well as the character of others then we should step back and observe.  
In the case of others don't let them know they are being watched because then you might get a show.  Just watch and see what happens.  How do they treat people who don't have the same kind of job title? income? house? cars? standard of living? dress differently? listen to different music? do or don't take drugs? do or don't smoke? have a job at all? don't have a job not in retail? etc etc etc?  You can see what I'm talking about.  
When it comes to observing your own character trust people in your life that you know are honest with you because they love you in genuine ways and ask them.  Don't be afraid to ask them and don't be afraid to hear answers that may be hard or surprising.  
Here's the reality of this life we live.  We are all "inferior" in someones world.  Not our own of course (in that case we are elevated perhaps a bit too much in some ways) but in someone else's estimation we are inferior.  Because of that, think long and hard about how you want to be treated by people who may view you inferior and then go and treat others you view as "inferior" the way you want to be handled.  My recommendation?  First step - quit viewing people as inferior.  :)  Nobody is inferior, we are all just different from one another and different isn't bad or inferior - it's just different.  There.  I've given you step 1, now go out and do the rest.  

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