Is it wrong to trust?

What kind of a world do we live in where our mantra needs to be, "trust no one"?

It's not the kind of world I want to live in, but it seems I have little choice.

I am a trusting person ... my word is my bond (and perhaps more fool me) ... I assume the same applies to the people I deal with. I believe what people tell me. No, I am not naive ... I just trust. I believe that deep down, people are inherently honest.

I would be stupid to assume the whole world works to the same principles I do...but how good would it be?

It's not rocket surgery... DO UNTO OTHERS ... it's as simple as that.

I don't care if you have a religion, worship a multitude of gods, or believe in the Tooth Fairy... if you run your life around this one simple rule the whole world would be a much better place.

Just think about it ... and that is the key ... you need to think. How would it feel if someone did that to me? Stop, think about it ... think. It's not that hard.

This post was motivated by an (almost) online transaction. I was trusting that the person I was dealing with was genuine. Despite my reservations, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. My trusting nature almost saw me ripped off.

It is not the money that I almost lost that upsets me the most. It is the fact that I will now judge everyone (as much as I try not to) with the very low standards presented to me by this person. That makes me really sad, and very angry that one anonymous person on the web has, in a small way, made me a lesser person. I am no longer as trusting as I was.

I am still me ... but the "me" feels a little battered and tarnished.