Focusing on Numero Uno

We Mexicans lie a lot.

Consider the country´s history. It´s filled with revolutions, murder, corruption, mayhem and major economic difficulties.

Of those, only corruption and economic difficulties remain as major players, but effects of the past are still with us.

Where life is uncertain, one tends to focus on Numero Uno. And that means suspicion of others. And that means being careful of what you say.

If you always say things people want to hear, you´ll likely avoid problems in the present. The future? It can just wait. With luck, it will never arrive.

What this attitude means is that responses to about any query is what the individual thinks you want to hear, regardless of its connection to reality.

Virtually all yes-or-no questions that directly involve the person being queried will be answered with a yes.

The exception to this would be if the "positive" response is no. "Are you planning to kill my family, Pablo?" Of course not, señor!

All of which means you can´t put much faith in what you hear.

Lying plays a decisive role in our daily lives. -- Octavio Paz.