Re: Ki is Kindness.
Matthew, as my understanding goes, 気 is neither good or bad and both of them. 気 is the spirit behind something, it's heart, its soul, its energy, and surely it can be kind, but then it can be evil. It depends on the use you give to it.
But saying 気 is "kindness" you're stating an absolute. And neither the language nor the concept functions that way.
And Carina is basing the language (and the kanji) in mere opinions based on... based on what, Carina? We still don't know your mileage in the language or the culture. Perhaps if you belonged to some mysterious and unknown sect that defined 気 as "kindness", you opinion would have some base. But mere opinion? You really must be joking. But I guess not.