Each of us is the sum-total of all of our life experiences at any point along the way. Now, it's also possible to have a life experience and not understand what it was or why it happened, and never really think about it in-depth again--a fairly common situation for many. So, for some, the sum-total can be missing fundamental information. Ergo, chronic or ongoing gullibility.

How many people do you know who keep falling in love with a particular personality type, only to discover that Mr/MissRight = Mr/MissWrong? Their excuse(s) run somewhat along the lines of, "he SAID!!!" or "she PROMISED!!!" YaHUH!

Frankly, I really don't know which is worse -- to be so cynical and jaded as to disbelieve just about anyone or to keep an idealism that always gives credence to the words of another.

How does one keep the door open to the joy of surprise and not also let every bloodsucking insect come flying through it?

Although, most who fall for versions of the Nigerian scam also have more than a faint odor of cheater about them and fall in the category of "You can't cheat an honest man." Someone who managed to save aside $300,000 as a nestegg AND managed to risk it all is less gullible and more gambler. He wanted to believe and keep in believin' cus he didn't want to face the fact that he thought he could cheat someone else or "get something for nothing."

I never loan another person money. I may use the word loan, but I accept that it's a gift. Once it's out of my hands, it's likely gone for good. And, I've paid more than one person to "get out of my life," with a loan -- cus, they immediately start avoiding when the so-called loan is due and payable.

NO one saves for a lifetime and then spends it foolishly because they are gullible. He thought his "Nigerian friends" were the gullible ones.

Ahhhh, I'm such a cynic :)

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LdyGuique