“Sometimes you have to play the fool in order to fool the fool who thinks they’re fooling you.”

This is one of the most memorable quotes I came across on Facebook back in the days when I was on that platform (may that dead and gone era Rest In Peace, Amen). It is not only the clever way in which this saying is worded that makes it so unforgettable – it is its truthfulness. How do I know? By using this approach in my own life. It involves playing dumb. Normally, I would not recommend pretending to be someone that you are not but when it comes to self-preservation, there is an exception to this rule.

If you suspect that you are in a nest of vipers, play the fool. The miscreants will usually reveal themselves based on their preconceptions about you which may be related to your gender, age, race, ethnicity, level of education, socio-economic status, and so on. Be patient, Grasshopper and they will show you exactly who they are.

Of course, this is only my humble opinion as is everything else on this website. However, it may be a tactic you want to try at least once in order to test its efficacy. Think of it as a type of camouflaging, or “playing dead” technique that some animals use in order to survive. You are not doing it to harm anyone in any way. You are employing a method of self-protection that is an integral part of Nature.

Have fun playing the fool.

Helen