"Most people are basically good" is untrue but useful; over ninety-five percent of the people you interact with aren't much minded to do you any harm and nearly all of the remaining five percent are in no position to do so.
It's not really because they are nice or good -- it's because it's easier to get along than not, easier to smile and nod than clonk you over the head with a club and try to evade the consequences.
You are surrounded by dangerous primates, the single most deadly species on the planet, proven killers; and you're safe because for nearly all of them, harming you is simply too much bother. You're in far more danger, orders of magnitude more danger, from the things they do carelessly than any deliberate act.
Smile, nod, be friendly. Being pleasant will make your own life more pleasant; but do remember, those creatures are dangerous.
What you said....
ReplyDeleteLife is hard enough as it is without going out and looking for Trouble. With that attitude, Trouble will find you and kick your butt good !
ReplyDeleteThe post title reminded me of Heinlein's The Man Who Was Too Lazy to Fail from Time Enough for Love.
ReplyDeleteYour last line reminded me of General Mattis' line "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet. ".
I have a theory that most of the labor saving devices are invented by people that are clever and have a streak of laziness.
ReplyDelete