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Trust is a difficult concept to define. In some respects it could define reputation, a state of mind or indeed a true state of affairs. The basic thread being a reliance that the trusted shall not fall below the agreed or accepted standard.

Man's nature is essentially predatory and individualistic and will act in self-interest, such self-interest being amorphous and dependent on the individual circumstances, hence trust in the context of man's innate characteristics is incongruous and really is a fantasy. Hence trust in the realpolitik of human relations is an artificial concept based on the mutuality of self-interest in an objective, whatever that is, where that mutuality of interest no longer exists then the artificial structure crumbles, in short there has to be an incentive for trust and where the incentive or consideration no longer exists, then the artificial structure crumbles- simple.

Its sad but true.