When I was little, I was taught not to talk to strangers.

I understand why.

It's about protection.

Wrapped in good intentions.

Yet years later, what has it left behind?

Maybe not for me, but for others it may have stopped them questioning the doctor, introducing themselves at a social gathering, putting their name forward for a promotion, or simply saying "hello" to the stranger next to them in the queue.

It's quite sad, if you think about it.

The default assumption is that people are bad and can't be trusted, that they might have ulterior motives.

We live in a low-trust world, and that's unfortunate.

My toddler loves strangers. His innocence leads him to make friends with everybody, and to show them his yellow truck.

At some point, I'm probably going to have to stop all that, and teach him not to talk to strangers.