Social Engineering is a form of human manipulation. It is commonly used by scammers, hackers, and government investigators.

Let's say, for conversation sake, after making a new acquaintance you find yourself under suspicion of being a "social engineer".

Is it appropriate to act insulted or offended?

Consider the following:

Reasonable people are cautious. Perhaps it should not be viewed as an insult if someone wonders if your early friendliness is a front for a hidden agenda. Many scammers use this approach. It is reasonable for someone to wonder about that.

To wonder if something might be the case (ie. perhaps you are a social engineer) is not the same thing as being accused. Try to keep clear, in your mind, the difference between being accused of something, and the legitimate consideration that something might be possible.

If you want good quality friends, you want well considered people who are cautious.

If you actually are a social engineer, you don't. Instead, you want to warm up to idiots who don't have the good sense to be cautious.

If you act offended, you reveal either a lack of common sense, or a typical manipulative ploy that is actually used by social engineers. (To discourage caution with arbitrary disapproval).

Consider this observation on Relationships... click here

Curious about examples of Social Engineering? click here

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