In Bloggers We Trust
Trust (noun)
- reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
- the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed: a position of trust.
Source:Dictionary.com
Recently I wrote a post on my own blog about my daughter, Daisy as she is known on my blog, and the ongoing effects of problems my daughter had with her Kindergarten teacher (for NSW, the first year of school). Three years down the track Daisy still has issues with confidence and self esteem, among others.
The comments that people made about that post were heart-warming, encouraging and supportive, as well as some that said that they personally had similar issues either for their kids or themselves.
One of the comments was from Anonymous. But this person chose to leave an email address in the required field that is linked to their blog. So, I know who it is. And the comment was one that tore at my heart strings because this person had suffered a similar thing at school, and now as an adult is still coming to terms with it.
I am blown away that this person that I hardly know in the blogging world has placed that much trust in me. Trust that I will not ever betray.
Much has been written recently in the blogosphere about how much we do or don’t reveal about ourselves while we blog, so how do we as readers decide who we can trust? And how do our readers decide that they can trust us, especially when its a blogger that we haven’t become familiar with. Thank you Anonymous for placing your trust in me.
For me, trust has to be earnt and is not something to be taken lightly. Maybe I said something in that post that Anonymous felt comfortable enough to leaving details that I would recognise.
Have you had someone leave an anonymous comment on your blog but with other details that mean that they can be recognised??? How do you feel about the trust that they have placed in you? Have you ever thought about trust and blogging? I guess I hadn’t really until I saw that comment.
I have been blown away by the private emails I get sent by people sharing with me intimate details of their lives. It is a very humbling experience that someone would take the time to do so and put that much trust in me.
Me too. That said I try to meet my standards for trust and integrity and good manners that I would likely give and expect in real life. My blog is just an extension of me, not a contrived persona. Maybe exaggerated on some days and maybe a little outrageous other days. Still me.
i agree with you trust should be take care of. Once it is lost it will be very hard for your to recover it, in blogging or in the real world. It is one reason why people are keep on coming back to our blogs and love us.
I’d rather use the word credibility rather than trust.
Generally I find bloggers are credible, but not all are trustworthy in a personal, private sense. Takes more than blogging to gain such level of intimacy.
But hey, it’s just me. I’d be a happier person knowing that I’m wrong.