It speaks of life choices, speaks of life circumstances, of morality, and speaks of previous baggage. An alarming amount seem to have deep phycological issues as well, and traumas.
A friend for sure, not sure if I would want to have to deal with their shit in a long term relationship however.
In my experience it's not a persons experiences that define them, but how they influence the person. I don't judge a person for what they were, but who they are. If a person and I fit like two pieces of a puzzle, yeah, I'd date that person, baggage and all.