I don't think people change who they really are. I had this very same conversation with a friend of mine this past weekend. She's just out of a relationship and is on the rebound. She has started seeing a new guy who "has a past". Alcoholism, drug addiction, and beating the living crap out of his ex-girlfriends. My friend is all, "But he's been sober for five years", and "He's been really upfront with me about his past and the things he's done", and "But no one is the same person they were in the past". That's all fine and nice, but honestly, a leopard doesn't change his spots. Those violent, destructive qualities are still part of who he is as a person, even though they may be somewhat under wraps due to sobriety. I hope she is never unfortunate enough to experience that first-hand.
