The bitter truth

"People prefer to believe the worst of others", announced my friend. "You have spent a lot of time on Social media recently", I deduced with the aplomb of a Sherlock Holmes. "Shut it! Yes, I have, but it is true of people even otherwise." "You are becoming a cynic in your dotage." "Nonsense! Tell me, if a person is accused of something and the people in his circles say he is