How do you know if what's you've got in your hands is a real person? Haven't you ever gotten the sense that someone just might be too good to be true? So how do you know? You look at the company they keep. You ask questions. And while doing this, you should pay attention to their answers, you should also pay close attention to the very personalities and characters of those people that you have chosen to ask. OR you can imagine yourself a room full of people who know him/her the best, listening in as these people discuss his/her character. While you're doing this, remember this one very important thing: "Joe" has probably done some pretty wonderful things, but he might have also done some horrible things (no one is ever as good or as bad as they first appear).
People have their reasons for doing certain things. You have to come to accept that no one is perfect. At this point, the question you should ask yourself doesn't concern how many hours he's spent volunteering at the local nursing home nor should it be whether or not he's guilty of having once forgotten to pick up his little sister from school. The question you should concern yourself about is whether he's been honest with himself about the things he's done (or hasn't done). If “Joe” is a good guy, the answer will always be yes. The true measure of a man lies in his ability to be honest with himself as far as what he's done with his life thus far. DO NOT expect perfection; but do claim your right to a certain degree of quality.
Everyone has secrets. But I don't suggest that everyone wear their hearts on their sleeves. Still, there is one very important question that begs asking: does your "someone" want you to meet his/her friends? Meeting someone's friends can be the most revealing thing about a person. When you meet someone's friends you are given the chance to see him through different eyes and different perspectives. You hear stories, and you find out what sort of person he is, as well as what sort of people he chooses to spend his time with. Run like hell from anyone who's hiding this facet of his life from you. However, if you are fortunate enough to meet a person who makes a conscious effort for you to get to know him in his element, you should give him at least the benefit of the doubt---you know that this guy has nothing to hide, not from you, not from anyone, not even from himself. If he's honest with himself, it's a guarantee that he'll be honest with you.
