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Dishonesty is a prevalent issue in today's society,
encompassing deceit and fraudulence with the intention of cheating others.
Unfortunately, this habit is part and parcel of certain individuals, making
it natural for people to anticipate blatant dishonesty in gamblers, illegal
hawkers, unlicensed taxi drivers, and even licensed taxi drivers, all for a
few dollars. Expecting certain people to be dishonest is advantageous since
it enables individuals to avoid dealing with them. However, even individuals
in positions where one expects them to be honest, such as professionals and
people in positions of authority, can also engage in dishonest behavior.
Reports of dishonesty are not limited to petty traders or hawkers but also
professionals, heads of governments, financial institutions, and big
conglomerates, who misuse their positions of authority and the trust placed
in them. Dishonesty is present in all levels of society, including among the
younger generation. Students who want to excel but are not prepared to work
for it may resort to dishonesty during examinations. Young men and women may
also be dishonest with each other in their relationships. Dishonesty can
even occur within a family and be covered up with the excuse of "I did not
want to hurt you, so I told a white lie."
Scams or con jobs that promise thousands of dollars and expensive gifts are
another form of dishonesty. Interested parties are invited to invest in
dubious schemes for lucrative returns, believing they will become
millionaires or multi-millionaires. However, many have ended up hundreds of
thousands of dollars poorer due to their greed. Sometimes, dishonesty can
cheat individuals not through greed but carelessness, sheer laziness, or the
penny wise and pound foolish habit.
Helen and I had a brush with blatant dishonesty when we were looking for a
house to rent. Thinking that we should save on agents' fees, we put out an
advertisement about looking for a house to rent. Within two days, a call
came asking us to go to a certain address. The person claimed to be the
owner of the house and was willing to rent it out to ladies only. We agreed
and went to the house, and a lady in her mid-thirties showed us around the
house. She was pleasant and generous enough to let us have the house fully
furnished, which suited us fine. We did not want to trouble ourselves with
furniture hunting. The offer seemed like a godsend.
We did not inquire about where she would be staying if we took over her
house. The rent she quoted was reasonable, so we paid her three months'
rental in advance and collected the keys immediately. Next morning, we
shifted to our new place and settled in. Two days later, someone opened the
front door with a key and brought in some luggage. He demanded to know what
we were doing there. Apparently, he was the owner and had not put up his
house for rent. We had been cheated by the sweet, pleasant lady! We lodged a
police report, and subsequently, the lady was detained.
Dishonesty may be pervasive, but fortunately, as the saying goes, what goes
around comes around. The majority of cases of dishonesty are always
uncovered, and even though individuals can hoodwink a few people, they
cannot hoodwink the majority. |
