GONZALEZ_ B5_"Trust No One"

3/19/2013

Link to video: http://youtu.be/WpYeekQkAdc

In “The Consequences of Modernity,” Anthony Giddens takes us down a path where he highlights the growing disparities between pre- and postmodern intimacy. This is discussed through the idea of trust as well as values incorporated by romantic love, self-identity, empowerment or powerlessness in the face of globalizing tendencies, and perceptions of day-to-day life.

Trust is an essential element of human nature. Psychology proves that this is a normal development among humans and is prevalent in various different relationships throughout one average lifespan. For example, we have trust (or distrust) amongst ourselves as peers, coworkers, teachers/ students, parent/ child, husband/ wife, etc. On a larger scale, we see trust (or distrust) between society and government, consumer and producer, etc. ‘Trust’ is basically the expectation we have that another being or institution will acknowledge and foster our own interests. Without trust how could we create the aforementioned relationships that are required in our day-to-day lives? Trust, I believe, is severely undermined. It plays a role in everything; democracy, community, economy… suggesting that, if there were a decline in trust and a sudden incline in distrust, this can be quite damaging to society.

“Take a chance!” is this what we think when we deposit our payroll checks into our checking accounts? Or when we give that failing relationship a 2nd-3rd-4th try? When we leave our house unarmed despite multiple robbery and rape stories on the news? Or not protesting our doctors’ analysis of an oddity we thought was worth mentioning? Why is it so easy for some of us to give others the benefit of the doubt in that they are honest and true and equally concerned about our on personal interests and well-being?

Giddens hit the nail on the head in his statement that “Trust on a personal level becomes a project, to be ‘worked at’ by the parties involved, and demands the opening out of the individual to the other.” Today we look for references, certifications, success/failure rates, testimonials of others who are or have been in our current situation. We require this reassurance in order to establish the trust that is needed to keep social life going.

When thinking about the issue of trust and how big a role it plays in the functioning of our society, I vaguely recalled the lyrics of a popular 2003 song by The Black Eyed Peas titled “Where is the Love?”

“Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity?/ Whatever happened to the fairness and equality?/ Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity/ Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity.”

And

“It just ain't the same/ old ways have changed./ New days are strange/ is the world insane?”

Though the title doesn’t specifically mention trust, the lyrics surely imply that it’s a similar concept. Trust is a ‘value of humanity’ that ensured ‘fairness and equality’, as a result of this lack of trust, we stray away from one another… isolating ourselves and becoming powerless as we bring social life to a halt. The music video for “Where is the love?” questions the direction in which we’re heading, the influences of social media, what is to come to the youth, it questions why issues are being ‘swept under the rug,’ and most importantly asks who can be trusted.

Nothing can function without trust; society isn’t configured to do so. Democracies, economies, and communities are all founded on it. When it comes down to ‘trust’ and ‘security,’ it is critical that we understand its mechanisms in order to solve the vast array of issues such as justice and the law, global warming, politics, relationships, families, etc.
I wonder… how real is trust? Is it a social construction that has been deeply embedded in our human functioning or is it simply an over emphasized illusion?

5 Comments

Azucena Lopez link

03/20/2013 8:52am

Your paper flows very well; you imply the lessons into two different examples. Your writing is very understandable; I can see how trust is a key to transformation. I never thought how big of a deal it is to put trust in the center of democracies, economies, and communities. But I do agree that it is a great factor in our daily lives. I will say that trust is real until one breaks it while dealing in a specific situation. For example, if I tell my close friend about a personal problem that I am going through and she goes to tell another person about it, even though I told her not to, that is where trust becomes unreal because I do not have that confidence to tell her my stories now. I will say that this is how trust becomes unreal.

Katie Reyes

03/20/2013 9:01am

Lillian, I really enjoyed reading your blog about how trust fits into Giddens’ idea of the consequences of modernity. I really liked how you used The Black Eyed Peas song. I feel like that song can speak to so many different things that are going on in our society. This song also speaks to the notion of trust in many different ways. When this song first came out, I remember how popular it was and how many people fell in love with their band. However, I do not think that those people were actually paying close attention to what the words of the song actually were and who they were talking to. They talked about how we, as an individual, are being stripped away from our values on humanity. If you think about it, the culture industry also helps to perpetuate this idea of us being stripped away from our values. We are constantly at the mercy of the culture industry to supply our wants and supposed needs. Of course, with every new thing, there are going to be some kind of consequences. However, I feel as if the culture industry just basically creates a monster inside of us constantly wanting the newest and latest trend. I think this “monster” is what brings about the idea of fairness and inequality. Many people go out and buy the latest trends just because they want them and can afford them. But what about those that are poor and do not have the money to buy lavish things? Do we sweep them under the rug too? It almost seems as if the culture industry is the main source of what is leading many people into poverty. They want the newest item, but they knowingly cannot afford it, and thus cause them to be in financial trouble.

S. Nguyen

03/20/2013 9:57am

I enjoyed what you had to say about trust. There was a day when a “man’s word was his honor.” That obviously goes for women as well. People used to do business with a smile and a handshake. Trust is very important. It’s one of the major reasons why people get divorced. Trust is earned and once broken it is very difficult to mend. Our culture and society is very different now. There is a lack of trust and that is evident in all the legalities that are required if you want to do anything. If you want to start a business, or basically do anything you almost always have to sign some form of contract just in case you go back on your word. It seems like most people try to trust in the legal system and hope that if anything goes wrong at least the legal system will protect them. Unfortunately even the legal system will fail and people are left broken and hopeless. How do we foster and build trust so that society and gain from the security it provides? This is a difficult issue to tackle because we sometimes cannot even trust ourselves to do the “right” thing so how is possible to trust someone else to make the correct choice? I thought your video selection was very appropriate for discussing the trust. I would ask you is trust something that can be fixed on a societal level? Is it something that can only be worked on at an individual level with hopes that people will change?

Patel h.

03/20/2013 10:01am

I think this idea of trust also has strong undertones of sensitivity. People want to be seen as strong, independent minded and rational individuals. What they quickly realize is that they are also sensitive. In the beginning maybe they did have unlimited amounts of trust for every aspect of their lives. Or maybe they saw their parents have unlimited amounts of trust for people in their lives. Then one day all did not go too well. The trust was taken advantage of. Feelings were hurt. Whether this happens once or a thousand times, it is very damaging. If people see their parents had initial trust that was misused by others, they might be more guarded in their lives when they grow up. Or if they themselves trusted with all their might and then were left hurt or disregarded either by an ex or by the government, this can lead them to conduct their lives differently in the days and weeks after. This leads me to think that maybe people need to conduct their lives in a very individual sense. How are they supposed to trust again after a series of disappointment? They are to handle future interactions with people without thinking that they could be left hurt. They could lay out guidelines to limit their trust if the initial amounts they give are not received well so they don’t give too much only to be left in a worse position in the end.

Nelly Jimenez

03/20/2013 2:57pm

Trust plays an important role in our every day lives. Trust is like a two way street in order to get it you give it as well. It’s hard to get one’s trust but it sure is easy to lose it. Once the trust is gone between the individuals it is hard to put trust back together. I think it’s amazing how you used the Black Eyed Peas song to make your point. That song is very powerful and it can be interpreted in many ways. I can see the interpretation of trust you are trying to come across with the song. Your image is also a perfect example of trust because it reminded me of the trust falls they do as team building activities. It has always been hard for me to throw myself and trust the individual that he/she will catch me. I ask myself how do you know it’s the “right time” to trust that person? Are you able to distinguish it by conversation, gestures, or acts? I am not sure. Overall, good choice on picking “Where Is The Love?” by Black Eyed Peas.

GONZALEZ_ B5_"Trust No One"

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