I wonder if anyone has given any thought to what you make another person endure to earn that trust? How are you able to determine whether you trust them or not when you yourself lack the experience to determine whether they are trust worthy? What is your trust worth to them when that expert knows you lack the experience to know, but force them to try to prove it to you anyway every time you speak? Why does everyone try to gain trust, or give trust, within the course of a phone call... when everyone knows that real trust takes a long time to develop?
This is at the very heart of this discussion. This is why I say we are witnessing the death of the experts, in every field. The demand that experts must pay for the sins of charlatans that came before them is unreasonable, and unwanted. There comes a time when the expert will simply refuse to joust with you any longer. They will simply refuse the expectation to pay penance for transgressions of those before them. At that time the expert will simply return to the solace of their work, in silence. They'll leave you to your defense mechanisms and assumptions to wander around a blind idiot rather than endure one more singular second of your "testing."
Today I had a gentleman in his 50's or 60's come by. Possibly even older. I am terrible at judging age, because it's largely inconsequential... but its a given that older men tend to be easier to talk facts with. It was refreshing. Plain talk, at a gentle pace... neither of us awaiting the end of the other person's speech so we could jam our own words in. Comfortable silences amidst sincere discussion and at no time was I bludgeoned with the unreasonable expectation of having to answer for the misdeeds of my peers in this industry. It reminded me of how simply and effortlessly it is to share my experience with another person. It made my day. Possibly my week. I didn't sell a thing. The hour and half of intelligent meaningful discussion with a genuinely interested person was priceless. The man left with a lot to think on, and my invitation to return anytime he wanted. It was nice to have my faith in humanity restored a bit. A refreshing departure from my normal day to day discussions where I endure people fixated on price and how quickly said product can be put in their hands or being grilled about what I think about something so-and-so said.
A resurgence of civilized discussion, combined with a distinct personal accountability and refusal to perpetuate myth... would seem to be heading toward a solution to all of this.
Regarding civilized discussion, if people could learn to speak plainly again, it would go a long way. Ask a question without simultaneously trying to convince the other party you already know the answer. Make a statement of fact only if you can prove the fact simply and readily. Don't speak at all if you lack the experience to even have intelligently formed an opinion.
Personal accountability would help because then you wouldn't be trying to hold person B accountable for the actions of person A.
To me this is all very simple, and I live my life according to these and other principles. Each time I'm expected to pay for the misdeeds of someone else, I'm quite confused by it. Yet not a single day goes by in which someone doesn't force that upon me. I'm quite certain others here have experienced that as well.
