How to become less gullible and naive?

[Meropatrick]

I know that i am a very gullible person. I am usually the only person in the room who doesn't notice red flags. i always see other people making better choices than me. I feel all the time that i am in the dark because of this. Recently a guy was trying to scam me and my friend he is the one that told me dont trust him. I listened to my friend and my friend was right. What does my friend have that i dont have when it comes to wisdom.

[ProbablyClueless]

I think the big thing is to remember that the fact you wouldn't do something doesn't mean other people wouldn't. Don't assume things to be true until you actually see them to be true. And always keep your eyes open for things about a story that don't really make sense or seem unreliable. Don't rely on something until you can see that it is definitely true.

You just have to apply a certain amount of two-step thinking and you can avoid most problems.

If someone told you that they would give you a ride to a concert this weekend, you probably wouldn't go outside your house right now and wait until they pick you up, right? That wouldn't make any sense. Today is Monday. Even if the person will definitely pick you up, you'll still be waiting for days and you have other things to do.

So, the better way to handle that situation is to assume that your buddy will give you the ride until Thursday or Friday, then ask him again to confirm that he'll give you a ride. Even then, figure out some other possible transportation arrangement ahead of time, for the possibility that your friend might not be able to give you the ride after all.

[purplepoppy]

Remember the saying, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

[LiamJHayden]

By experiencing betrayal. Sucks, but that usually works.