THE PRICE OF 'MISTRUST'
One of the biggest problem of having the majority of a society's population, as people of low integrity, is the fact that trustworthy or people of high integrity would have to suffer for people's 'untrustworthiness'.

An average person would just believe that the person talking to him is not trustworthy simply because he has had an encounter with a bearded man looking like some 'Alfa' who sold fake stuffs to him or because he has seen stories online of how 'Pastors' impregnate their church members. So he his left with the thought of, 'what more is left of people in this life?' When persons that are supposed to be an epitome of good character have failed the world, then what more can we expect from persons that we can say we're not be expecting much from, we think. Like the Igbo boy selling fake spare parts or the Yoruba boy guy doing fake SIM registration or after hearing that Hausa people are somewhat decent people but then you find one smoking, so you lose hope in finding any person to trust and treat everyone like the persons you met before that failed you.

But then, is this how we are meant to relate with people? Are we meant to deal with the next person like he might just be another fraudster. Of course they say, 'Once bitten, twice shy.' But do we have to let the next man know that you think that he's just another dog who's looking for a prey to bite?

What I'm basically saying is that when relating with people, we shouldn't 'shout' that you don't trust no one. How about you just relate with the person like you trust him while being extra careful by putting in place checks that would prevent another 'heartbreak'. But you shouldn't let it show. That would preserve the sanctity of human relationship and not let every encounter with everyone be like robbers who's trying to rob you with some succeeding and others failing. I believe we can relate with everyone with the impression of trust and respect (because it is actually great disrespect to let a trustworthy personality feel that you don't trust him), and still do your homework of preventing any form of 'heartbreak'.

Gafar Bashiru
tosin_bashiru2000@yahoo.com

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