Cripple Chronicles: Issue 9, Trust the Cripple
People can not be trusted, unless they must be, that is. This is when we encounter trust, when we have to; when there's little else to choose from. A cursed few delight in knowing that their well being, or their property for that matter, is directly controlled by the actions of another. Expectedly problematic psychological tendencies arise due to being constantly reminded that, with or without trust, we are not the only deciders of our worlds.
There is apparent glory to be found in self-sufficiency, as we grasp at fuzzy strands of it like spoiled children, but counterintuitive as it may be, the urge remains strong in most to prove, at least to themselves, that they don't NEED anyone else to... (this is where it gets tricky) be happy? Make it? Survive? Compete with? And then on the other hand, there is the blatantly transparent and coincidentally comparable longing for love and companionship that the general audience exudes so awkwardly. Do we not trust that others will love us? Should we? I don't see why we should, other than because of patterns, of people being together, working with each other, and loving one another for thousands of years. These truths offer none of the vague guarantees that always follow “trust” around, but they say something of us humans and how we often tend to interact with those around us. They tell me that people are going to do what it takes to meet their desires, and often times, there exists someone else that, by having their own, similar desires, allows the two to meet their own desires more effectively by aiding one another. I find that the essence of trust and friendship fall from these base observations.
It's been stated that I'm forced to trust people. Hardly. I'm forced, instead, to attempt to master the ancient and nearly lost arts of relations and civility. I know, an odd claim coming from such an asshole, but trust isn't necessary if all parties are clear on the consequences regarding their actions. Miscommunication and misunderstandings are at the root of distrust and seemingly selfish acts; honest and concise speech is usually enough to avoid such casualties. People are selfish by design, to survive, and not by fault; understanding this trait of self preservation removes some of the negative connotations tied to the term “selfish.” There is no selflessness. Being named doesn't make something real. The most selfish thing a person can do is try to be selfless.
It's much easier then, for me, not to trust all the people that I must have help me to not hurt me, but to know that they know that it's best for all of our situations for them to try not to (hurt me). Others need not trust that I won't wrong or hurt them, as they should know that my weak ass has no business startin' shit. Trust doesn't make bad things not happen; it's merely accepting that interests can align, and can be encouraged to do so.
There is apparent glory to be found in self-sufficiency, as we grasp at fuzzy strands of it like spoiled children, but counterintuitive as it may be, the urge remains strong in most to prove, at least to themselves, that they don't NEED anyone else to... (this is where it gets tricky) be happy? Make it? Survive? Compete with? And then on the other hand, there is the blatantly transparent and coincidentally comparable longing for love and companionship that the general audience exudes so awkwardly. Do we not trust that others will love us? Should we? I don't see why we should, other than because of patterns, of people being together, working with each other, and loving one another for thousands of years. These truths offer none of the vague guarantees that always follow “trust” around, but they say something of us humans and how we often tend to interact with those around us. They tell me that people are going to do what it takes to meet their desires, and often times, there exists someone else that, by having their own, similar desires, allows the two to meet their own desires more effectively by aiding one another. I find that the essence of trust and friendship fall from these base observations.
It's been stated that I'm forced to trust people. Hardly. I'm forced, instead, to attempt to master the ancient and nearly lost arts of relations and civility. I know, an odd claim coming from such an asshole, but trust isn't necessary if all parties are clear on the consequences regarding their actions. Miscommunication and misunderstandings are at the root of distrust and seemingly selfish acts; honest and concise speech is usually enough to avoid such casualties. People are selfish by design, to survive, and not by fault; understanding this trait of self preservation removes some of the negative connotations tied to the term “selfish.” There is no selflessness. Being named doesn't make something real. The most selfish thing a person can do is try to be selfless.
It's much easier then, for me, not to trust all the people that I must have help me to not hurt me, but to know that they know that it's best for all of our situations for them to try not to (hurt me). Others need not trust that I won't wrong or hurt them, as they should know that my weak ass has no business startin' shit. Trust doesn't make bad things not happen; it's merely accepting that interests can align, and can be encouraged to do so.