Anecdotally, it can be contagious.

I live in one of those most dangerous towns in my country. We have a Facebook group where people will proudly act really nasty toward each other.

One time someone was mean to me and it was unwarranted. I think anyone wouldn’t’ve blamed me if I called her out.

I can be nasty myself. A lot. ESPECIALLY if I’m being attacked. But I’m trying to work on it.

For whatever reason, in this situation I happened to remember that I’m trying to work on it. And as badly as I wanted to be the bigger bitch, I chose to be the bigger person and I chose to respond with kindness. And I felt like shit. And I felt mad that I wasn’t “defending” myself.

It caused a chain reaction that I’ve never seen in this town. People were hopping into the replies also offering kindness to this person.

This was awhile ago and I still feel great about it. Which is another benefit.

You’re way more likely to regret being mean than you are to regret being kind.