Why are humans like this - when you show them kindness and compassion, they assume it's a weakness and exploit it, or treat you with condescension?

Some personal experiences prompted me to post this. So I've decided to interact with everyone on a neutral level, without pretenses. No more excessive niceness, no more unwarranted kindness. And I won't be rude or aggressive either. I'm done with emotional entanglements.

😶

First impressions are overrated. People liked me more when I consciously put effort into souring first-time engagements. I don’t mean be rude, obnoxious or agitative. I mean, relax and be yourself — your basic self, not your best self.