Dishonesty as a way of life
HAVE YOU EVER wondered about dishonest people? I don’t mean those who will 'borrow' the odd pen from work I mean those people who are actively dishonest in virtually every facet of their lives.
Now, admittedly, no-one is 100% honest. Have you never parked your car in a place where you shouldn’t really because you would ‘only be a minute’ - a parking meter bay or a restricted zone maybe? Yeah, me too.
This type of minor dishonesty is all part of being human but the dishonesty I am referring to is the kind of ‘full-scale’ dishonesty by which some people lead their lives. The kind where people will defraud banks of lots of money to fund their expensive lifestyle.
The kind where some will lie to (or about) others to gain an advantage at work at the expense of the victim.
There are people who think nothing of robbing the elderly or the infirm - the mugger in the dark alley or the unscrupulous builder who charges way over the odds for shoddy work or work that hasn’t even been done.
Or the corrupt businessman who bribes others to gain an exclusive and lucrative contract instead of bidding openly and fairly for it. Some people make it their life’s work to do no honest employment. They scam, cheat, lie and steal their way through life - always looking for the next victim, the next source of easy money.
The internet has made it easier for many of these people to do their worst. Have you ever been the recipient of an email scam? You know the type I mean, where some Nigerian Prince (why is it always Nigeria?) offers to share his inheritance with you if you will just let him use your bank account to deposit the money in?
The last time I tried to renew my car's road fund licence (a road tax in the UK) online. I inadvertently clicked on a site which offered to do it for me - for a fee of £40. Yet this service is offered free on the genuine government site!
And don’t get me started on dishonest politicians who only seem to seek office in order to feather their own nests!
What is the mindset of such people? Do they think they are above the law or are they simply using the rest of us as a ‘gravy-train’ to wealth? Are they the clever ones who have learned how to use the system and are we the mugs for being honest and trying to make it work?
Speaking personally, I am not Mister Goody-Two-Shoes - I don’t believe anyone is - but I’m certainly not any kind of crook, unlike many in this world. The reality is that it seems that many people see it as a fair tactic to outsmart their fellow citizens - even if that means robbing them of all they possess.
Their motto seems to be 'Do Unto Others Before They Do Unto You'. It is a way of thinking I just do not understand.
Image Credit » Nemo/Pixabay CC0 1.0 http://goo.gl/tK3R5d
Comments
GemstonePink wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:20 AM
I think those with low self esteem feel they deserve any kind of break they can get no matter who they hurt.
WordChazer wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:26 AM
You and I are in the same corner when it comes to politicians. The other thing that bugs me is the way that massive conglomerates seem to manage to pay less tax than their turnover and popularity suggests they should. Those lattes were sold and consumed within the borders of the UK, so the tax on their sale should be paid here too. Ditto the stuff we all buy off Amazon and eBay. The revenue from that ought to be funnelled back into this country too. After all Amazon at least employ people here, and I'm pretty sure eBay's Global Shipping Program has employees mailing on packages recieved from people who can't get their head around international postage and would rather someone else dealt with the people who don't pay up too.
seren3 wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:31 AM
I think the dishonesty MO is sociopathic. I ran into a couple of classic cases some years ago. it's soul-killng.
Kasman wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:31 AM
It would seem that governments and politicians are exempt (or think they're exempt) from the rules the rest of us have to follow.
WordChazer wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:36 AM
One I ran into still owes me £500. Twice bankrupt, by now, so I'm unlikely to see that spiv chancer again.
MelissaE wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:38 AM
We had our debit card number stolen a few years ago. It was then used to make multiple purchases online. But, I'm happy to say that mostly I deal with honest people.
Kasman wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:39 AM
That happened to our daughter a couple of years ago. They lifted £3000 out of her account overnight. Fortunately, her bank covered the loss and she was quite happy with that.
maxeen wrote on February 22, 2015, 12:06 PM
You have just confirmed my horror of the carreer politicians,no ! I shall not vote..
morilla wrote on February 22, 2015, 12:58 PM
With "amorality" becoming the new "morality," I don't 'wonder' much anymore. I can understand the temptation and the thought process. What I don't grasp is how 'easily' the choice is made by those who figure they are owed something or that they aren't really 'cheating' anyone. It's more of a 'consternation' than a 'wonderment.'
LeaPea2417 wrote on February 22, 2015, 1:08 PM
Most politicians are dishonest and I have a particular relative who is dishonest and can't see that he is.
BeadDoodler wrote on February 22, 2015, 3:00 PM
I don't understand it either. People work harder at scams than they would at a job it seems to me. And as a beaded jewelry designer I can add one more fraud the internet helps greatly. . .people claiming and selling someone else's designs or other copyrighted material.
Soonerdad3 wrote on February 22, 2015, 3:23 PM
Yes I did know that about the female mosquito. I also think there are far too many people in this world looking for an easy buck and unfortunately it is human nature to fall for the scams.
MegL wrote on February 22, 2015, 3:24 PM
I think many of those people are psychopaths. Read an interesting book about it one time, Snakes In Suits.
Kasman wrote on February 22, 2015, 3:38 PM
MegL - I did a quick search for that book and it looks interesting. I'm sure I've worked beside more than one psychopath in my working life!
MegL wrote on February 22, 2015, 3:46 PM
Yes, me too
BarbRad wrote on February 22, 2015, 4:37 PM
Evil doers have been around for a long time. They aren't likely to disappear. I sure wish we could get them out of high political offices where many consider themselves above the law when it comes to helping themselves at the public trough. Though it all, at least on this side of the pond, they publicly disparage income inequality while letting taxpayers much less wealthy than themselves pay for their expensive travel and vacations and breaking the backs of small business people with taxes and expensive regulations.
Gina145 wrote on February 22, 2015, 4:41 PM
Some turn to crime because they can't earn what they need any other way, but that certainly doesn't account for all of them. Eliminating poverty would be a start, but I guess it's impossible to eliminate greed.
johnmariow wrote on February 22, 2015, 4:46 PM
The problem with politicians is that they do what their constituents want instead what is best for our nation. Dishonesty is rampant in society and on the Internet. People lie and cheat and scam others. The best we can do is pray for them.
BodieMor wrote on February 22, 2015, 11:15 PM
Sociopaths abound, unfortunately. People devoid of moral compass...
Gabriella47 wrote on February 23, 2015, 3:02 AM
those looking to make a quick buck are allover the place. Sometimes it is greed that let people be robbed by tbose scammers. They see the incjdents daily on television and in newspapers but when the scammers approached them with a get rich scheme, they fall for it.
Dawnwriter wrote on February 23, 2015, 11:11 AM
Kasman , You are not being Mister Goody-Two-Shoes I wonder the same thing at least once a day at least myself. If I tell even a small lie, I feel uncomfortable with a nagging feeling in my heart. I don't know how these people live with themselves.
nbaquero wrote on February 25, 2015, 10:45 AM
Kasman I know that generalization is not a good practice, but have you noticed that there are some professions known for their dishonest practices, they are constantly trying of take advantage of people's lack of knowledge.