Thread: Who do you trust?

When I first moved to where I now live I knew no-one. It took a bit of time and effort but I eventually made a few friends, but I didn’t know if I could trust them; after all I knew practically nothing of their histories, and they were as curious about mine as I was about theirs.

So I tried an experiment. Perhaps foolishly, but I kinda needed to know if these were actual friends or just drinking buddies. I like to know who I can rely on to keep my private info private.

So, after knowing them for a year or so and having built up some confidential repartee I decided to test just how confidential this repartee was.

I told each of my new friends, some men & some women, a different “secret”, one that if true, would be considered gossip worthy, but nothing criminal. These “secrets” were all made up.

I imagined the scene: “Hey, did you hear this about the new guy Jackoff. He did so and so. I know because he told me himself. I swear it’s true.”

This was many years ago and the details are a bit vague. I can’t even remember the stories that I started about myself but what I do remember is that each and every one of these stories eventually made its way back to me.

So much for friendships and confidentiality!

Needless to say I stopped thinking of them as friends and no longer associate with any of them. I’ll say “Hi” if I pass them on the street, but that’s about the height of my interaction with them.

I have other “friends” now, but now I know to trust them only so far.

There is only one way to keep a secret – TELL NO-ONE!

This, as my story demonstrates, applies to men just as much as women. I had always suspected this from past experience, but maybe people were different here; their general personalities were certainly different to those of where I hailed from.

This was very duplicitous of me and I accept that, but I was alone in a new town and I needed to know for sure.

Now I know.

I generally trust people in advance and in doing so, give them a chance to prove their honor. You see, a world without trust is a place of fear, paranoia and just a miserable spot. If someone talks behind your back, this has nothing to do with you. It has to do with the issues of the untrustworthy person. Do ut des, meaning I give, so you give too. And if "you" don't, well, then that's life. But to change my character only to prevent people who don't "give" in return? Never, because of said reasons in the beginning.

A true and time tested saying is: "Two people can keep a secret, if one of them is dead"

Bottom line is, if you don't want your shit to be common knowledge, don't tell ANYONE. Even your friends will sell you out for shock value. Trust yourself, that's it.

Originally Posted by Chris007

A true and time tested saying is: "Two people can keep a secret, if one of them is dead"

Bottom line is, if you don't want your shit to be common knowledge, don't tell ANYONE. Even your friends will sell you out for shock value. Trust yourself, that's it.

You never hear about "one man" conspiracies in spite them happening all the time. ^^^^Good advice!

Another thing, stack the bones in your closet neat and orderly, that way you won't fill every closet in the house like I did...

Myself and Jesus.

My dog..