Is it normal to not trust anyone?

60% Normal
8 Comments

I consider myself to be a very good judge of character, and I feel that a lot of people I meet are up to no good. I get a sense within a few seconds of meeting someone if they are good or bad. I rarely am wrong about this. I also sense that most people have greedy ulterior motives. I don't like the fact that I only trust about one handful of people in the world, but I often worry that everyone is trying to get one over on everyone else. For example I don't trust food from others because I think they may have poisoned it just for fun. I make sure when walking down the street to look behind me so no one can sneak up from behind, and when I go to a restaurant or sit on a bus I also look for a seat with my back against a wall.

Is this normal?

Voting Results
60% Normal
Based on 60 votes (36 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • Mando
    11 years ago

    Yes be discerning - but give people a chance - you are not if you judge so many so quickly to be so untrustworthy. Take a chance. What do you have to lose anyway? You will make more friends.

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  • BlueJeansWhiteShirt
    11 years ago

    It's good to be wary of some people and their actions but that's another story.
    The majority of the people you know and meet will be trustworthy. The world really isn't as dangerous as you think. What you are describing isn't just about trust though, you are describing paranoia, which is totally different from trust. Not taking food from others because you think it is poisoned is not about trust.

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  • AbnormallyAwesome
    11 years ago

    I believe you that you're rarely wrong about people being bad or good. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. People tend to become what you see in them. If someone treats me like I'm an asshole I will become one eventually. But he tells me how I'm such a friendly person, I feel flattered and be extra friendly when he's around.

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  • chainsaw88
    11 years ago

    That's how my mom was, and that's how she raised me. I have never gotten fucked over by anyone because I know how to read if people are trustworthy or not. The only problems I can think of this causing is that when my friends do something with someone shady, I tell them, but then they say I'm paranoid. I just think of all the stupid shit they have gotten into and I haven't, and smile a little inside when they are too stupid to listen to good advice.

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  • GuessWho
    11 years ago

    Where do you live?

    You'd never survive in South Africa WITHOUT that mentality.
    We lock and/or watch everything here. There are just far too many dishonest people around.
    It even goes as far as locking away our valuables inside our own houses when we have cleaners come over.
    From the outside, the average home in a "safe" neighbourhood is protected by a 2m wall with an electric fence, dog(s), burglar bars and security gates, and an alarm linked to an armed response security company.

    I basically only trust my family and, to a limited extent, my friends.

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    • notbnormal
      11 years ago

      I'm in Canada, I can just imagine how paranoid I'd be in South Africa.

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      • GuessWho
        11 years ago

        I can just imagine how paranoid us South Africans must seem to the locals when we visit other countries.

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  • alv1592
    11 years ago

    It is somewhat normal. If someone seems genuinely nice, they probably are. However, if someone asks you for favours often, most likely they're using you. And if your online friend (if you have any) wants to meet in person, meet in a public place. If he/she wants to meet in private, something's probably up. Online friends can be real friends, all of mine are, but I suggest getting to know somebody before meeting. People you know in real life are usually genuine, but again, if someone wants to be alone with you when there's no reason to be, be wary. I learned the hard way that that's not a good sign...a family acquaintance got me alone and touched me inappropriately. Somebody on this site, won't say any names, basically said I deserved it and that hurt me all over again. Oh well, people are dumb.

    Anyway, it's normal to feel the way you do, but at least give people a chance who seem nice.

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