A story is only as truthful as the person who narrates it - the benefits of being trustworthy
“It reminds me of this saying “never support an unjust system, one day it will act unjustly in your favor, some other day it will act unjustly against you” Scamming is stealing no matter how beautiful people try to paint it.” — A couple of days ago, the topic of scamming was brought up on Twitter and this is the opinion one tweep had on the issue. Amidst the heat, and like every other topic of debate, we saw parties for and against bring up points to support their stand. Some even went out of the way to rain insults on others. This is how important the topic is to them. Amongst those for scamming, we had scammers, their friends, girlfriends and benefactors. On the side against, we had Twitter moralists and others. People even brought up arguments to defend it by saying that we have embezzlers and pedophiles et al. Others quoted the famous “let he who is without sin, cast the first stone” and rightfully so. Who is there without sin? Even though there are no smaller sins, to every act, there is an equal consequence. Some call it karma, but karma is a myth and at the same time, a bitch. It doesn’t work like that.
When you listen to the stories from a doubtful source, you can only doubt the veracity of the story. If a container is dirty, the water can’t be clean. And so, a story is only as truthful as the person who narrates it. When you are notable for lying, none will believe you even when you decide to tell the truth. In saying this, we assume that a person who is used to having a bad reputation shall keep living with that bad reputation even when he/she decides to change. A person who has been good will always receive the benefit of doubt even when accused in the worst situations. In today’s world, it is very important to build these reputations that will defend us when we are narrating stories or when they are narrating our stories. But is it that easy to be trustworthy in a society where fake has become the new real? Is it reasonable in a society filled with dishonest people? Is it possible in a society of drug addiction and money laundering?
But what are the benefits of being trustworthy in a society that is so depraved and perverse? Even the good ones have been corrupted by the vices that inhabit this society. The quest for wealth and fame has made us indulge in some of the most despicable and shameful things just to have society smile at us and pat our backs saying “You are the man” Even in P Square’s famous “E no easy”, they say “For this world, the good dey die, as for the bad, na them di survive” and even in our churches, it is not assured that the christians will succeed. Going by this logic, there really isn’t any benefit of being trustworthy. What then do we do? Do we follow the crowd and join the bandwagon? If we were to tell our stories someday, would we be taken seriously or would our words depict deceit? Whatever you do, always remember that your reputation should be guarded with your life. Even when nothing seems to matter anymore, being trustworthy will be the most valuable treasure you can have and should afford.
A man without principles is like a moving car without breaks.
