Trust—it’s a slippery fish, ain’t it? People spend their whole lives trying’ to figure out who they can rely on, only to learn the hard way that trust is as rare as hen’s teeth. You see, an honest person has a tell. They don’t nod their head like a bobble-head every time you open your mouth. No, sir. They’ll look you in the eye and tell you the truth, even if it stings like a hornet. They’ll stand firm in their convictions, even when it causes you some discomfort. That’s how you know they ain’t playing’ you for a fool.
Now, let’s take a gander at some of our modern barons of industry—Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and the like. Just a few years ago, they were wagging’ their fingers at Trump like schoolmarms lecturing a rowdy class. Back then, they figured he’d lose, and they could keep patting themselves on the back in their moral high ground. But when Trump won the election, suddenly they found religion, or at least a newfound respect for pragmatism. It wasn’t a Damascus moment, mind you—more like a boardroom revelation that they’d better play nice if they wanted to stay on top of the heap.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I ain’t bellyaching about their right to speak their minds or donate to this or that party. That’s the beauty of a free society, after all. But what sticks in my craw is the hypocrisy. These fellas are now bending over backward to act like none of it ever happened. They pretend they didn’t censor voices or bankroll campaigns. Take Facebook, for instance. They’re pulling the plug on fact-checking now—though they didn’t exactly earn a gold star for it before. They even admitted they botched it, taking down posts about Hunter Biden and peddling the FBI’s yarns about Russian interference back in 2016.
And yet, here they are, sidling up to Trump as though they’ve been bosom buddies all along. Now, I reckon Trump ain’t buying what they’re selling. He’s no fool, and he knows a fair-weather friend when he sees one. But the dance continues, as it always does, with these high-and-mighty types swaying whichever way the wind blows.
The truth is, the world is chock-full of folks who’ll tell you whatever you want to hear if it serves their purpose. And that’s the saddest part—they’re not out to build bridges or foster goodwill. They’re out to manipulate you, plain and simple. It’s a kind of sport for them, like fox hunting or yacht racing, only instead of chasing prey or cutting through the water, they’re tugging at your strings like you’re some marionette.
Now, let me tell you a little parable that sums up the whole affair. It’s the story of the scorpion and the frog. The scorpion wanted to cross the river, so he asked the frog for a ride. The frog, being a sensible creature, said, “But you’ll sting me, and I’ll drown.”
The scorpion laughed and said, “Now, why would I do that? If I sting you, we’ll both drown. Trust me.” So, the frog agreed, and halfway across the river, sure enough, the scorpion stung him. As they sank into the water, the frog croaked, “Why’d you do it? Now we’re both doomed.”
The scorpion shrugged and said, “It’s in my nature.”
And there you have it. Some folks, no matter how much they have or how little they need, just can’t help themselves. They’ll manipulate, deceive, and sting, even when it’s to their own detriment. So, when you’re sizing up someone’s honesty, remember this: if they’re always sweet as molasses and agreeable as a summer breeze, you might want to look twice. The honest ones are the ones who’ll argue with you, challenge you, and maybe even make you mad. They’re the ones worth trusting. The rest? Well, they’re just scorpions waiting for a ride.
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