It's odd that this is even an issue, but since it's on the table, it's kind of lame.  "Trust" is something I can give to someone who doesn't necessarily feel the same about me, and I'm fine with that.

One person I tried to put on my trusted network, and he flat out ignored me, but it's no sweat off my nose.

Who am I to dictate whether or not people trust me? Who are other people to dictate whether or not I trust them? Stating someone is trustworthy is an opinion, not a reciprocal bond.

Idono, people pretend that the trusted list is no big deal, I think they're being a little disingenuous. I agree that the trusted network can mean many things. I, like Ridge have used the trust as an olive branch but 9 times out of 10 the other party is not interested, so I don't use it that way any longer.

When I first came on here, back in '05, I'll have to admit that I was a tad baffled by the "Trusted List", so I asked someone who I respected, what this was all about. I can't think of a  better, or alternate title for this list, but it's not always about trust. It can be about respect for a person's point of view and the way they express it. It can be a "thanks" for the helpful information, or for making me laugh. It can mean, simply, that I like you, or appreciate you. It might be a "welcome sign", as some people click on anyone who leaves more than one review. My situation here might differ from most others, in that I had maintained a base of friends even after I left the site, so when I returned, so did a portion of my "Trusted List", very quickly. As far as genuine trust goes, there's very few people who I would actually trust with intimate information and I'm sure that's true with most reviewers, here. The over-whelming majority of people that have my picture on their page, I like, respect and appreciate. It's obviously not mutual 100% of the time, but I see no risk here in reaching out to others, because I have learned that, whether online, or in real life, you never know what part a person is going to play in your life when you first meet them. I met Stark online...

As far as this suggestion goes, I think it is contrary to the nature of RIA, but is perfect for someone who likes to slip notes under doors and run away...

I'm not sure I understand the intent of the suggestion here.  You don't have to "trust" anybody - even if they trust you.  This feature is deliberately not reciprocal... everybody on the site gets to choose whose reviews they follow.  Eventually, we'll probably institute a recent comments type feed for just your network.... this feature will probably make more sense then.

I suggest we start charging people to get on our trusted lists: the higher the trust is, the more the dead Presidents...Seriously, this is absurd...

And while we're at it, lets draw a line down the middle of the back seat of the car and you aren't alowed to cross it and touch your brother or his stuff.  Don't make me pull this car over to the side of the road.

This falls clearly in my "who gives a damn" bin.  What does "trust" really mean on here anyway?  There are people I "trust" to entertain me, others I "trust" to write cogent, entertaining reviews, yet others I "trust" to write reviews in areas that interest me.  And there are those I "trust" to make an ass out of themselves at every opportunity.

I don't put a huge amount of thought or time into this feature and I'd bet most reviewers don't exactly beat their heads against the wall over it, either.

Trust should be mutual. I wouldn't trust someone who doesn't trust me, nor would I like to be trusted by someone I don't trust. I would like to be able to know why a member trusts me before being listed as trusted, and the trust should be always accompanied by a testimony. Clean, fair, honest.