What do you do when you don't trust a person but have no evidence?

[Something Funny]

Like when your instincts and your intuition tell you that there is something shady about them, and there are those minor things that make you suspicious, but on the surface they are nice, and you have no real evidence or proof of anything, so you just go along with whatever they are doing. Until it's too late and you are fucked.

[trenton]

@Something Funny you are describing a very real problem with how law enforcement functions. Institutions are generally reactive rather than proactive.

For example, a teacher at school could be luring children to private lessons. If the school doesn't do anything proactive, then it will not be until multiple children come forward with complaints about sexual abuse even though most of the children stay silent. This is even harder when dealing with someone with a good reputation. 

if you try to confront someone like this before they have done anything to you, then they will just gaslight you claiming you are paranoid. The frustrating reality is that given how various institutions and law enforcement are structured, there isn't enough done to prevent the problem from arising in the first place. All you can do is protect yourself to the best of your abilities.

[Emerald]

When I have that feeling, I just stay away or create more distance. People give off vibes. And you can sense important things about their potential tendencies through those vibes. 

That said, you'd also want to consider that you could be projecting onto them. So, it's worth questioning.

But if someone's vibe is making you feel uncomfortable and you aren't sure if it's a projection or not, a little bit of distance would still be wise... just paired with some contemplation.

[Something Funny]

@trenton true, although I was asking more about your personal life.

@Emerald what if you can't create a distance, what if you need to make a decision and make it quickly?

Like what if your friends are dying and there is this woman who can cure them. But in order to do that she needs you to let her in to the house where you and your friends live, and where you know she is forbidden from going, in the middle of the night, so that she can perform a magic ritual. You also have to participate in that magic ritual which involves cutting yourself for blood sacrifice and drinking a suspicious "tea" mixed with blood and different herbs or whatever.

You have known this woman for some time now and she is very kind and sweet in general, but sometimes she will avoid answering some of your questions and will ask you to do things that might be pushing some boundaries.

Would you go for it or would you just let yourself and your friends die without even trying?

[trenton]

@Something Funny if you meant my personal life, then i can give you a real life example. 

During spring break I traveled to Europe with my sister. We were in London watching street performers. I had done my research, so I was aware that pick pockets targeted tourists who were watching street performers.

A couple walked up behind me and my sister. I looked at their faces. They had unnatural smiles. Their eyes were unnaturally fixated on the performers as they avoided any eye contact with me. Their body was stiff and the smiles exaggerated. This is when I felt something was wrong. They positioned themselves such that I had nowhere to run because I was caught between the crowd and them. I couldn't move and now was vulnerable.

I pretended to watch the street performers and the loud music. I was silent and listened carefully for any movement behind me. As the song approached the climax with loud noise and excitement, I heard the zipper of my backpack coming undone and felt the vibration through my body. I was bullied a lot in school, so I was sensitive to people trying to steal from me.

I immediately took off my backpack saying "I heard that." I placed the backpack between my sister and myself and checked. I found the zipper was opened. I turned around and looked at the couple. They maintained their unnatural smiles even though they were just caught. They pretended nothing happened and walked away.

So to answer your question, When somebody seems suspicious, I become extra alert around them and pay close attention for sudden movements even when I seem to have my guard down.

[Tenebroso]

I remember at University there was this guy sitting across me in the library who looked like a skinhead neo-nazi's. He had the look; shaved head, tattoos, black boots, tense gaze, piercings, etc.......about 5 minutes later a black guy comes and sits next to him, they shake hands. I meet them a few weeks later and this honestly intimidating guy and it turns out this regular black dude are best friends from Germany (international students)

[M A J I]

Beware of people who appear very nice and friendly externally, if you do not feel a deep peace that generates from them, there is often underlying shadows. Sometimes psychopaths are exactly like this, the perfect friendly person externally, yet something is deeply wrong or off with the energy they give off if you are sensitive enough to pick it up. Some of the nicest people I know have some of the darkest secrets, they eventually will come out.

Edited January 4 by M A J I

[Whitney Edwards]

 When I get that feeling, I either steer clear or create more space. People emit vibes, and you can pick up on important things about their potential tendencies through those vibes. 

Ever get that 'uh oh' feeling around someone? I usually do a little vibe check and either gracefully sidestep or give 'em some extra breathing room. People, they radiate energy, you know? And sometimes, that energy screams 'potential trouble' louder than a toddler in a candy store. Haha. 

Now, I'm the first to admit, sometimes it's just me projecting my own anxieties onto them. So, a little self-reflection is always in order. But if that uneasy feeling lingers, and you're not sure if it's your imagination or not? Better safe than sorry, right? Time to politely excuse yourself and ponder the mysteries of the human aura.

Trust your intuition as you move along. Sometimes your intuition can bluff you though. So being cautious is the only advice. 

Also if someone is coming off as playing mind games, just dismiss them and avoid them at all costs, they are gonna be trouble sooner or later anyway. 

Side note - most people with good intentions actually make their intentions clear quite early on (in my experience). 

Edited January 4 by Buck Edwards

[Something Funny]

@Kairos I meant dying from a terminal illness that can't be cured in any normal way.

This is a plot of a tv show.

[Javfly33]

contract a private detective to find out if your suspicions are true 

Edited January 4 by Javfly33

[PsychedelicEagle]

On 1/3/2025 at 5:30 PM, Emerald said:

But if someone's vibe is making you feel uncomfortable and you aren't sure if it's a projection or not, a little bit of distance would still be wise...

+1

It's wise to respect one's own perceptions. You can do so while maintaining respect for others. Let them earn your trust, should that ever happen.

On 1/3/2025 at 7:41 PM, Something Funny said:

what if you can't create a distance, what if you need to make a decision and make it quickly?

Then the default is no. 

[Emerald]

On 1/3/2025 at 5:41 PM, Something Funny said:

@trenton true, although I was asking more about your personal life.

@Emerald what if you can't create a distance, what if you need to make a decision and make it quickly?

Like what if your friends are dying and there is this woman who can cure them. But in order to do that she needs you to let her in to the house where you and your friends live, and where you know she is forbidden from going, in the middle of the night, so that she can perform a magic ritual. You also have to participate in that magic ritual which involves cutting yourself for blood sacrifice and drinking a suspicious "tea" mixed with blood and different herbs or whatever.

You have known this woman for some time now and she is very kind and sweet in general, but sometimes she will avoid answering some of your questions and will ask you to do things that might be pushing some boundaries.

Would you go for it or would you just let yourself and your friends die without even trying?

That's a very specific high pressure hypothetical situation that is super cinematic and unrealistic.

In most cases, it's just interacting with someone that gives off that vibe that "There's something about this person that feels a bit red flaggy."

And in those cases, I just stay away and/or create distance.

And it could be someone who's genuinely nice. There are plenty of nice people that give off red-flag vibes that their life might cause some drama.

[Consept]

Yeah similar to @Emerald it's pretty just you get a certain vibe. What i found difficult earlier in life is trusting my instinct, because usually this person would be overly nice to me, people might like them, but I would have a feeling where I just didn't trust them. 9 times out of 10 I would be proven right as well when they're true colours came out. 

So now anyone like that I just create space from them and I'm very conscious of what I tell them or show them. Being able to read people is such an important skill but it can only come from experience. 

On the other side it's also important to know yourself and bias, if you always have a bad feeling about black people that's more a you problem lol. 

In terms of your magic example, I wouldn't really trust someone doing that stuff generally but even more so if she was avoiding questions.