Until Last Night

I had never really given any thought to our innate human need for safety…. until last night. We had a bit of a situation in our complex which caused us to brush shoulders with the ugly underworld of the sex trade.

We had some suspicions that there were some unsavory characters renting the apartment downstairs. They were into some illicit business as girls changed over, rich older clients knocked on the door and money was exchanged.

Thing is, they had been so quiet and well behaved that we had no proof of what was going on… until last night. One of the ‘entrepreneurs of the night’ was kicked out for not offering to share her skills for payment. What ensued was a frightening expose of the industry. Needless to say, that I have never in my life seen such a blatant display of this ancient profession. Nor has it ever made my stomach churn… until last night.

I had seen the men that partake in the services rendered, wealthy, very wealthy nice looking middle aged men. The service providers however, were the personification of desperation. They were dirty, drunk and sad. So so so sad. It made me want to knock those clients out for fueling such iniquity. Their wives sitting at home not a clue as to where their husbands are or what kind of services they are receiving.

Back to the story, the ‘ladies’ unwillingness to provide services ended in her being kicked out by the ‘small business owner’ onto the street. A fight ensued, the cops came, the cops went. More fighting ensued, our fear grew, the cops came and the cops went.

Long story short, we were not the brave home owners we normally are but were instead existing in a state of fear.

It all got me thinking this morning, when I walked into work and felt safe, where else I do I feel safe? It then hit me that Mr Maslow was quite correct in putting safety as a very basic need and second on his hierarchy of needs. Feeling safe is incredibly important to our psychological welfare.

I can’t imagine the distress people go through when they are constantly scared. People living in war zones. Those living under the hand of a violent brute. Those living in the streets constantly watching over their shoulder for the next threatening experience.

Safety is so important. If Mr Maslow were still alive, I would call him up and congratulate him on his most accurate understanding of the human condition. Well done Maslow, well done indeed.