Following Banky W’s loss at the just concluded House of Representatives elections, his tweeps went from critiquing him for not having a deep understanding of how politics/governance works – calling him ‘gorimapa Chris Brown’ to congratulating him for having the right perspective and being the real third force, and then back to trolling him again for losing. Numerous people on Twitter were shocked at the change of tone; how quickly one person moves from being naïve to being a hero and then back to being naïve again, all in one week.

I was not shocked. I had zero reaction to the musician’s political views or actions. Not because I didn’t think he had it in him, it was just not something I ever thought about. Nevertheless, I wasn’t shocked at the ever-increasing fickle population, because compliments do have a very short shelf life but criticisms fester.

Time and again, history has been proven right. Weak politicians who surround themselves with only the people who sing their praises have been the undoing of their own selves. Their tenancy terminated prematurely.  

The politicians too have gained mastery over your minds, embellishing it with sweet smelling short-lived compliments. They tell you that something unpalatable is only going to be temporary because that is what you want to hear. If you believe them, the joke is on you.

If you have ever been kind to someone, if you have ever extended a helping hand to someone, if you have ever done anything that made other people proud of you, then you are no stranger to being showered with compliments. It feels good, and not just to the person receiving it. But it is often short-lived, and, this is no one’s fault.

You cannot know anyone profoundly until they stop getting their way.