I always think this is an interesting discussion. Are you the type of person who trusts easily until you're betrayed or are you the type of person that's a little more skeptical, forcing a person to earn your trust?

 

I'm probably the former, and it has worked to my advantage. I've always considered it somewhat defeatist to allow someone who screws you over the power to dictate who you are. I also live by the Anne Frank quote, "In spite of everything, I still believe people are good at heart." I think in some ways, I've made the personal choice to accept that me being me does leave me susceptible to bad things happening because my guard is almost always down. I'm willing to take my chances.

 

Anyway, I thought it might be cool to get some insight into some of you. Honestly, the impression one usually gets through the Internet is that everyone is cynical and untrusting of those around them, but the Internet isn't the best gauge of anyone's day-to-day personality either.

 

If you're untrusting, what made you that way? Were you always that way?

I wouldn't say I'm too trusting, but I tend to overestimate other people's honesty, if that makes any sense.

 

 

I tend to put everyone at the same starting point when it comes to trust, regardless of if they've earned that level or not.

 

Once someone's been proven to be not trustworthy however, they get the full-out cynical treatment.

I'm not very trust-worthy until I really get to know a person, and I feel I know how much they can be trusted.

I'm not very trust-worthy until I really get to know a person, and I feel I know how much they can be trusted.

So you lie til you get to know a person?

 

 

As for me, I'd say I'm skeptical at first. It's just because I find it to be the best defense against strangers. I'd trust them to an extent (like about minor issues), and if they keep my trust over time, I trust them more and more.

Actually, sometimes I do.

 

I think you know what I meant though.

It takes awhile for me to really trust anyone. It just makes dealing with people easier since you don't really get burned. I'm even less trusting in work environments.

I tend to keep my distance from people. I can be pretty open to people, but I don't give my trust until they earn it.

 

I've been burned too often in the past, so I tend to have my guard up when trusting others.

I'm trusting, but I tend to also be paranoid. Too often I think of what people might be really thinking or what they might be saying when I'm not around. Still, I want to trust most people and in most cases, I do. I try not to let that make me a pushover, though, as I'll rock the boat a bit if I think that is happening.

I'm very hesitant to trust people.

I think I'm pretty friendly with people, but to a certain limit. I can be pretty open, up until a certain limit, if that makes any sense.

I'm very hesitant to trust people.

As am I -- I only really open myself up if I know I can truly trust a person but the thing is it's always hard to judge who you can trust.

Trust is earned, not given freely.

(Sorry if it sounds like I need a box of tissues shoved down my throat or anything, but he asked a question, so I answered it.)

If you're untrusting, what made you that way?

Too many backstabbings for a limited amount of stitching materials. I must have iron kidneys or something.

Were you always that way?

No. From birth up until late elementary school, there was noone I trusted, but a group of people earned my trust when it seemed like they were going out of their way to end my outcast-ish life and include me. And then it was shoved up my ass with thumbtacks at the end of junior high when they got tired of abusing me. The only people I would trust after then were a group of online friends I made over time... people that I felt I had at best a "long-lost brother" level of closeness and understanding with. And surely enough, in due time they shat all over my trust too.

 

I'm not so disillusioned that I think everyone is somehow "fake", in-person or not. Let's just leave it at 99.99% of the world's population.

I'm way too trusting, absolutely paranoid and a complete pushover when someone violates my trust.

 

The last one is being fixed as we speak.