Someone can do a nice gesture, but it doesn't mean they are a nice person. It's all about perception, in my opinion. The same could be said in reverse as well.

For example, I can be an absolute jerk to someone or a nice person to another doing the same thing. It's how different people perceive those actions based on their knowledge of nice actions.

On another scale, there's a certain attitude that some people posses that just seems nice to everyone. They could smile just to be professional in an awkward situation. They could hold their tongue and think twice before commenting on something they personally don't like. In this case, it's all about outward presentation. Do you have to be that way to be nice? No. Saying "Thank you" where it's warranted is nice enough for me. Someone people forget that basic gesture at times.

It doesn't mean people that don't stir the pot are always nice, and people who do stir the pot aren't. People are allowed to stand up for their beliefs, and in all honesty, that should belong on a different level of understanding. Respect maybe? I respect people who stir the pot once in a while. Can't let the thing go stale, can we?

Does that make any sense?