For Truth?

I’m pretty convinced that if I was to construct a survey around drugs, sex, abuse and alcohol and then conduct this survey in the US, it’d be difficult to get an honest response. Hardly any American is going to tell a surveyor how often they buy cocaine or that they have a wife, a girlfriend and yet frequently enjoy some late night female company. Denial would be the response of choice in the US because, heck, who wants the fact that they have a profitable drug business operating on the weekends to be public knowledge? No one. Sure you spend your Saturdays with women who charge by the hour, but you keep that to yourself.

This however, is Liberia and the bounty hunters (in the bush or in the hood) get the info we need. Liberian men will admit to things that many Americans would never admit to. In the bush: “You spent how much money on “going on the block” (prostitution) this week?” I could buy three meals with that. Wait, and you have a wife? Who’s got belly (her ego is prego) and you have a girlfriend? (in a school uniform, classy) I’m struck by your cavalier attitude. In the hood: you spent all that money on rubber bands? Previous job: drug dealer. Current job: hmmm let me guess…drug dealer? What are the rubber bands for? To tie you plastic bags, ok. Seeing as how you have bought 3x the amount of rubber bands than last month, I’d say you’re doing rather well for yourself. Oh good, you agree. So you’re expanding your drug trade with the money we hoped you’d change your life around with (give me the money back, you honest little hustler).

Things we’ve realized: prostitution, drug dealing, stealing and my favorite so far, fighting:

[What happens if someone get you vex (makes you angry)? “I’ll find something and hit them in the head with it, brother” For truth (really)? Ok, let’s not get him vex]

are all acceptable things to admit to. Beating and drug usage (for the most part) at present are not, but if these things happened in the past, they’ll tell you all about it. The difference between what I find acceptable and what they’re willing to say openly, always amuses me. You pushed you girlfriend into a wall once? Oh, I guess she should keep her mouth shut then? Oh, you agree again. Not surprised.

Despite the Liberian honesty on these matters, they are masters at never overtly asking for money. “You have something for me?” Do I? “You were suppose to send it to me in the field” We were supposed to send you a lot of things. “Yea, but you said yesterday that…” Oh you need money? Why can’t you just say “where’s the money!?” We have people admitting to illegal actions and you can’t say we need money? I just wasted 20 min deciphering your rambling. The things that are culturally acceptable here...man.