One thing that will never stop failing to amuse me is how many people find it hard to accept that some people are just not like them. For some reason, they have this warped sense of reality where life is only as they see it, and it’s the only acceptable way of getting something done. And as a result, anyone who does anything contrary to what they’re used to is either pretending or just a fake. Which means, such a person is not to be trusted.
And it’s funny how often you see this, even in circles where you’d expect the members to be more civilized and educated. Especially when it comes to bad things, people will see your refusal to partake in such things as a direct attack on their choices to do those things. They will never consider that maybe you’re choosing not to do bad things because you don’t want to bear the consequences. No, they always take it personally.
A few years back, I made a promise never to get drunk. And for me, that means never drinking anything alcoholic again. Prior to this, I had already stopped taking drinks like beer and whatnot, I never liked those to begin with. My favorites were vodka and liquor, and even with those, I rarely drank them because I refused to have them in my home, and I only took them when I was with friends. So, it was easy to turn my back on it when I decided to. And since then, I’ve not taken another sip of alcohol.
As a result, I forced myself to stop going to gatherings where guys frequently drink. I’ve never had a problem with addiction, nor was I struggling with withdrawal, but my problem was always the people there who were drinking. There are those who will say that they can’t have malt or yoghurts on their tables. They’d always be pushing for me to have a drink with them, no matter how often I say no. Eventually, we always get past all that, but the fact that they still keep trying to get me to drink it was always irking.
It was particularly irksome when they tried to tell me that soft drinks are full of sugar and gases, as if the alcohol they consume so much of is filled with pepper. When I tell them that alcoholic drinks contain more sugar than soda, they shut up.
This is the same thing that happens with smokers. I don’t hang with such people to begin with, the risk is just not worth it. But living in close proximity to them back in school meant that I had to cross paths with them from time to time. And many times, especially when there are a number of them, it’s almost expected of you to partake. It’s almost a rule in the streets that where two or more are gathered, there shall be weed in their midst.
That’s why you’d hear phrases like: “how men go mount, but Igbo no go dae?” meaning, how will men be gathered but no weed? Making it seem like a taboo. When you turn down their offers to join them in smoking, instead of them leaving you to your choice, they’ll start telling you that weed is medicinal and healthy, and how it’s good for the body. When that still doesn’t work, they tell you that las las, something has to kill a man, and even with a clean lifestyle, a long life is not guaranteed.
But the worst of them are even the fraudsters. Those ones will never stop making fun of people who choose the cleaner source of livelihood. They keep talking down on others who are trying to make an honest living, and keep trying to oppress them. They’d use the 9-5 status to insult, making them feel like they’re idiots for choosing to live life the right way.
That’s what’s crazy about society today. It’s as if just because people know that they’d do certain terrible things if they’re in a particular situation, then it’s normal. So, anyone who chooses not to go that route is the abnormal one. That’s why if a man sees a million naira on the floor and keeps it for himself, he’s considered smart, but if he returns it to the police as he’s required by law, he’s foolish.
It’s as if people can’t just accept the fact that not everyone is greedy or always on the lookout to take, sometimes, people just want to live happy and quiet lives void of drama. But when you make moves towards acquiring the life you want, you’re seen as a pretender and a fake. Because, according to them, how can they trust you when you don’t have even one vice you’re doing?
Just crazy!
