If you have 10 minutes ...

Onora O'Neill is a wonderful thinker. She has written several books and done many lectures on the subject, but gladly here is a 10 minute talk where she brings up some pretty valuable ideas in a very short time.

I think trust is a very personal subject, and it shifts based on experience, observed knowledge, and growth. For instance, we may say we don't trust politicians; but turn around and say "But I trust Obama" or whoever one choses to trust in the political arena. That trust may change as the politician's term(s) are served and we find evidence of activities we do not find trustworthy. Same with friends, family, co-workers, and corporations. Trust is not an absolute, but a changing concept.

I was able to see it in 5 minutes by speeding it up to 2x

I certainly think it is valuable to consider that oftentimes we are asking the wrong questions, and taking for granted that they are the right questions. I love how she reframes these questions in a way that take "trust" away from the abstract and makes it real... in a way - and I'm sure this is not the only topic for which this happens - we observe "trust" as if it were this tangible, external object, deteriorating through time, its shine opaqued by "corruption", also described in this external, objectifiable manner.

But trust is better understood as a verb, not a noun. And as action, it is a relationship, us being an integral part of it. I love how the responsibility is placed on us to become more trustworthy, rather than to simply expect "trust" as this abstract thing to become automatically better (and the responsibility of it left to someone else).

I like her point that making ourselves vulnerable to the other party can be very powerful evidence of trustworthiness. Thats not easy to do for many people.

Finding trustworthiness... first ... I like that.

I heartily endorse this idea that trust shouldn't be blindly given or blindly not given: each instance of trust has to be determined based on historical and current knowledge of the subject and situation. Trust is fluid, and can shift based on just one or two changes in conditions. I trust my wife to drive when she is awake and focused, but not when she's at all tired. I trust her driving in normal conditions, but not in heavy traffic or really bad weather. I also really like the thought that trustworthiness is the actual quality, trust is just our natural reaction to that quality. And vulnerability leads to trustworthiness. So to grow trust, we have to grow trustworthiness, and vulnerability to a degree as well. This feels so much more doable, and like I'm so much more in control of the process. I can work to become more and more trustworthy, and I can work to become more comfortable being vulnerable. What I have a lot of trouble doing is trusting blindly or despite my experiences and expectations, and it turns out that's a good thing! I've judged myself a lot for "not being a trusting person" or at least, not being enough of one. These ideas lift a lot of that feeling for me.

Somewhat as an aside, I really like the speaker's voice and delivery style. Calm but still interesting. Thanks for sharing it, Alex!