Colonel Mustard's Common Sense Combo: When "Normal" Is the Real Red Flag
Well, butter my biscuit and pass the pickles—Colonel Mustard here, ready to serve up a combo platter of common sense, straight from the sauciest corners of the fridge. Let's bring together everything we've been chewing on: the wild stories, the "just following orders" excuse, the absurd hotline runarounds, and the sneaky grooming that keeps the whole rotten sandwich together.
1. The "Normal" Trap: Grooming Beyond the Victim
Let's start with the big squeeze: Groomers, traffickers, and abusers don't just target individuals—they groom entire communities. They set the table so that "normal" means ignoring the weird, dismissing the wild, and calling anyone who speaks up "crazy."
They count on people's desire for comfort and routine.
They gaslight whole towns, training everyone to look the other way when the absurd happens right under their noses.
2. The Absurdity of Help That Isn't Helpful
Now, say you finally get the courage to call a hotline or reach out for help. Instead of a lifeline, you get a script:
"Are you in immediate danger?"
"Well, it's complicated—"
"Sorry, can't help. Next!"
The system is so worried about following the "normal" checklist, it forgets that real life is messy and doesn't come with multiple choice answers. Meanwhile, the people who need help most are left hanging up, thinking maybe they really are crazy.
3. The "Just Following Orders" Baloney
And don't forget the old "I was just following orders" sandwich. Whether it's a sheriff taking illegal instructions from higher up, or a hotline worker sticking to the script, common sense says:
If you know it's wrong, don't do it.
You can't wash your hands of mustard stains—you're responsible for what you serve.
4. When Wild Stories Are the Truth
Here's the kicker: The crazier a story sounds, the more likely it is that nobody would make it up. Traffickers and abusers are counting on the world to dismiss the unbelievable. They want the cops, the neighbors, and the hotlines to say, "That's too wild to be true."
But sometimes, the wildest stories are the ones that finally bust the bad guys.
5. The Real Absurdity: Protecting Perpetrators by Dismissing Victims
The more we ignore the absurd, the easier it is for predators to operate. They want us to roll our eyes, to doubt, to second-guess the people brave enough to speak up.
It's not an accident; it's a strategy.
If we only ever look for "normal," we'll never catch the monsters who hide in plain sight.
Colonel Mustard's Common Sense Combo Platter
So here's the full-flavored truth, piled high and ready to serve:
Question "normal." If something feels off, it probably is.
Listen to the wild stories. Sometimes the most unbelievable tales are the ones that need the most attention.
Don't hide behind "just following orders." If you know it's wrong, don't do it—no matter who's giving the orders.
If you're in a position to help, actually help. Don't let scripts and checklists blind you to real people in real trouble.
Remember, predators count on your disbelief. Don't give it to them.
Because in the end, common sense isn't about what's comfortable—it's about what's right. Stay sharp, stay saucy, and don't let anyone gaslight you into ignoring your gut. Colonel Mustard's orders!