In the age of technology, a lot of things we were taught as kids have gone out of date, but some of the most important lessons haven’t. Some of those important lessons, however, have been forgotten. One of biggest changes I have noticed over the past few years is the lack of concern over “stranger danger”. Growing up this was a phrase we heard all the time. There were just certain things you were told to never do, that have now been thrown out the window. The best example of this that I can give is Uber. We were always told to never get in a car with a stranger and now we are paying a stranger to let us in their car?

Maybe we are partially to blame for all the crime around us?

We allow these things to happen to ourselves, we don’t think twice before hopping into a car with a stranger.

Not to say that anyone deserves to be harmed, but we are no longer protecting ourselves. Sure it would be amazing to live in a world without crime where you could trust everyone around you, but we don’t. We don’t live in that world. We live in a dark world filled with terrorism, hate crimes, victim blaming, mass shootings, kidnappings, rapes. The list goes on and on and that is the world we live in. We should protect ourselves because of it.

We shouldn’t allow it to happen to ourselves easily. Don’t give in. Remember what you were taught as a child. Don’t trust strangers. Don’t just automatically assume everyone is kind and that they have a great heart. Everyone around you has felt pain to a very large extent, and it’s how they react to that pain that allows for this sadness and heartache over not being able to trust people.

Think about all the apps and websites that allow strangers to take you places, watch your kids, or do things for you. Apps that have food delivered to you, that allow you to meet up with a stranger on a date. Websites that allow you to sell things to people, that allow them to come to your house. You are giving all of these people your address, allowing them to come into your home, to see your world. You are allowing it. You are allowing technology to take precedence over safety.

No, this does not mean you should give up and lock yourself inside all day, but it does mean when doing these things, you should be safe. Think of your safety and protect yourself. Never take an Uber alone. Have an interview with a sitter you found online and get clearances before allowing them to watch your children. Meet people you don’t know in a public place and let your friends know where you are going.

Be smart, be conscientious, be ahead of the game, and most importantly be safe.