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We had to drop into Ikea today to pick up some wooden cutting boards and some candles for the party. Normally going to Ikea for something specific, one leaves with a handful of everything else as well, but we were in and out without a browse, so no temptation. However, we went through the "self-serve" checkout, it flashed yellow and told us to wait for an attendant. When she came, she had to check through our bag to make sure we scanned everything due to a random check. 

> I know these random checks well. 
I get randomly checked every time I go through airport security. 

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/tarazkp/23yx61vacw192gpFGkCjVpSQYBVjFnuFyDDsZ81DTbu8bLTBXWzNG3EweFsnaEBooKLPS.png)

> Perhaps it was random.

*Likely not.*

After we "cleared inspection" my wife said that they have been increasing the random checks recently at these checkouts due to the increasing amount of theft taking place. I have noticed this at the supermarket also, where they have an extra person on duty of late, making sure that people are following the rules. The retail prices have gone up significantly over the last few years and wages have only increased a fraction. It is no wonder that in cost of living crises, more people are going to look for ways to increase their purchasing power. 

> Ways to increase purchasing power.
>- Earn more? Too hard.
>- Save more? Too hard.
>- Invest more? No way.
>- Steal? We have a winner!

It really isn't such a bad strategy, as after all, the governments do it globally through tax and then flaunt their misuse of our money in our faces daily. It is like being carjacked at gunpoint, calling an Uber to get home, and then the uber is the carjacker driving your car, charging you for the trip, demanding a tip, and expecting a five-star rating.

> And the police are on their side.

I don't know how dire financial circumstances would have to be to actually steal, but I do get that at the moment, a lot of people are both under monetary pressure, and there is a far less care for consequences. Social behaviour in general has slid with the reduction in human connection and community, so there are far more antisocial actions taking place and petty crimes are on the increase in many areas. As are drug issues, mental health problems, relationship violence and many other *undesirable* human conditions. 

>I don't think we are winning as a species currently.

I could be wrong of course and it might just be my perspective on the world, or my narrow vision. Yet, when I take a look around and ask others, they don't seem to be enjoying themselves and seeing others have a great life either. Are we all just blind?

> Perhaps.

Hard to say what is "actually" happening in the world, because the information flow is so unreliable because the sources are so untrustworthy, it all becomes nonsensical. Most of us are siloed in our little information bubbles, believing we know what is going on, without recognizing that our self-chosen slice of reality, could be anything but. We feel very confident due to the confirmation bias we feed ourselves, yet, if we really all were so knowledgeable, how come we are mostly struggling? 

There are lots of ways to answer and excuse that, but I recon that there is too much complexity to know for sure, and there are too many variables that are outside of our awareness. So, because we don't see it all, we just think that what we don't predict, must just be some random act, like a security check - when it could be the farmer's wife with a carving knife, knowing exactly what she is doing with it.

The decorative mice in the picture were the first Christmas calendar gift today and represent our family. Hopefully for their sake, I am not completely blind. 

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]


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