Constant Vigilance isn't Wisdom

A few days ago, I was waiting at a bus stop for a bus to take me home. A woman came up to me and asked if she could use my phone to call her friend. She literally had a phone in her hand, so I hesitated, but I ended up giving my phone anyway.

She dialled a few times, but the person on the other side didn’t pick up. Finally, they did, and she moved a few steps away from me to talk quietly. I panicked a little, because what if she just ran away with my phone?

But she didn’t. She hung up and handed the phone back to me. I really hated how much I doubted her. But could you blame me? We’ve all heard of scams that start like this.

Still, maybe we have to take chances with people. Maybe we ought to give them the benefit of the doubt. I know we sometimes come across crazy or strange people, but mostly, 98% of the time, we meet good ones. At least, that’s how I feel.

It’s tragic how we’ve conditioned ourselves to view every stranger through a lens of suspicion and distrust. Constant vigilance isn’t wisdom; it’s a curse that isolates people. The number of random, deep, reflective conversations I’ve had with strangers has changed my perspective on life every single time. Giving all that up because I’m scared and overly cautious doesn’t sit right with me.

I’m willing to risk the chances. I’m willing to bet on humanity. And if, now and then, I get scammed, so be it. I’d feel guilty for a few days, but I’d eventually move on.

Some people might call this stupidity. I see it as being kind and considerate, without losing common sense.