Trust Percentages WAS: Scientists identify brain's 'trust machinery'

May 23, 2008

Victor wrote: " ... <snip> ... For example, I trust my two best

friends about 95% to cover my back if any of our colleagues tried to

run me down when I'm not around. They're both great fathers and

caring individuals, so I trust them about 95% around my children.

However, since they're guys, and they're entering their middle years

(ie. possibility of mid-life crisis factors in here), I trust them

about 0.015% around my wife. So, they rarely see or talk to my wife,

unless their wives are present ... <snip> ... "

While I can absolutely see where you are coming from, Victor, there

are parts of what you have written that bother me.

That you are able to trust your buddies 95% when they are around your

children who are minors, that trust drops to a negligible level when

these same buddies are around your wife who is a capable adult. What

you are in effect saying without realizing it is that you do not

trust your wife any more than you trust your buddies.

I'm certain that you trust your wife quite a bit however the trust

level you have attributed to your buddies when they are around her

does not reflect that.

The degree to which I trust my friends is consistent with what they

have shown me to be true about themselves.

One friend lives in Toronto and because of her past and present

behaviours and choices as well as he personality, I trust her 75%

across the board. If she's going to do me over in personal matters,

I have to believe she would do me over in professional matters as

well.

Another friend lives in Montreal and because her most recent

behaviours and choices have proven that she is making very poor

choices these past few months, I trust her 5% across the board

whereas before I trusted her 50% across the board (among other

things, aligning herself with other businesses in the U.S. that are

gung ho on raising money for Autism Speaks and her willingness to

turn a blind eye to this with the comment that " awareness is

awareness, right? " will do that to a friendship.)

And yes, I trust my Toronto friend 75% with my boyfriend and I trust

my Montreal friend 5% with my boyfriend but I do not fret over it

because I trust my boyfriend 100% across the board. :-)

Raven

Co-Administrator

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