How many people would you vouch for?

[account_inactive]

Why are you vouching for people? Are you part of the mafia?

Yes.

[Excited Penguin]

Why are you vouching for people? Are you part of the mafia?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFsLohtE0UA

[robvalue]

I've been thinking about how many people in my life I truly trust. I'm talking about people that I feel I have had enough experiences with that I could vouch for them. I'm sure you know what I mean, but I'm talking about this kind of thing:

I believe that:

-They would never intentionally hurt me
-I can safely tell them anything in confidence
-I would trust them with the safety of others
-They would never betray me, even if they had the perfect opportunity and could get away with it
-If I needed them, they would do everything in their power to help me

And so on.

So the question is: how many people do you know that you would vouch for? I'm not asking people to name their vouchees of course. It can be both people you know "in real life", and online contacts.

I think I have counted 7. I know many other people who I would feel pretty confident trusting, but I just haven't had enough close contact to be able to vouch for them beyond question.

The list was fairly large until I hit the bottom criteria.  Everything in their power?  What does that mean?  Lay down thier life for me? Bankrupt themselves?  Look after me 24/7 for years?  If you mean drop everything to help me in a jam, five.  If it's answering yes to my first three questions, perhaps one, but I'd rather he didn't.  

Drop the last criteria and the answer is over 20.

20, wow that is awesome

My criteria were just examples. You can interpret "vouching" as whatever seems reasonable to you.

Yeah, when I said everything in their power, I guess that sounds a OTT. I wasn't thinking of such extreme things as bankruptcy or going to jail. I wouldn't want my friends to do that for me anyway. I should have qualified it, "Within reason". I'll add that now, thanks

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm obviously not a genius, but if you're going to treat me like one, you're going to get disappointed over and over again.

I was just being helpful and making a remark. I know most people here. I wouldn't be calling them liars just to upset them. That's stupid. I guess you just need a little nuance to notice when I'm teasing and when I'm being serious. And there you go, I did it again and not with the intention of angering you.

"Just joking" ... mmkay.

[Losty]

-_-

[Edwardo Piet]

The problem with this logic is that distance abets falsity when those folk are so inclined. And it happens.

Emphasis.

When you do truly come to know someone, you know they're not that way inclined.

I'd trust my bestie over anyone else every single time. Every single time.

The way I see it is online bestie friendships like me and Losty and Rob and Ivy are extremely strong evidence against the idea of online friendships not being as 'real' as so-called 'real life'.

Fair enough to those who haven't experienced it themselves it's not evidence, but it's sure as hell strong evidence to those who have experienced it.

[robvalue]

We all have our own rites of passage I suppose. I respect that some people feel they need a meeting in person, or some other criteria, before they feel comfortable.

[KevinM1]

I'm surprised that people didn't pick up on an implied 'within reason' with Rob's last criterion. Maybe it's a cultural thing? Because whenever I hear someone say "I'll do anything for you," there's still a boundary there. Like, one of my brothers may donate a kidney to me if I need one, but I wouldn't expect them to quit their job and wait on me all day. And they understand those limits implicitly exist on my behalf if I also share/express the sentiment.

Similarly, I didn't count my family in the 1.5 number I gave earlier because around here family is almost clannish. The 1.5 are people I consider to be equivalent to family.

[Losty]

1.5 people D:

[Thumpalumpacus]

The problem with this logic is that distance abets falsity when those folk are so inclined. And it happens.

Emphasis.

When you do truly come to know someone, you know they're not that way inclined.

I'd trust my bestie over anyone else every single time. Every single time.

The way I see it is online bestie friendships like me and Losty and Rob and Ivy are extremely strong evidence against the idea of online friendships not being as 'real' as so-called 'real life'.

Fair enough to those who haven't experienced it themselves it's not evidence, but it's sure as hell strong evidence to those who have experienced it.

Well, I wasn't saying they're not as real. What I was saying is that it's easier for someone to put something over when they have a couple of computers between you and them. I wasn't talking about your relationships in particular, just laying a general point.

I've been hurt by trusting too much online, and to be honest I think I've hurt others, because it's easier to type feelings than to live them.