Keller @ Large: Trust Must Be Earned
BOSTON (CBS) - Before the news broke that NBC news reader Brian Williams had been suspended without pay for six months for embellishing stories about his life and work, I was appalled by a news item describing how Williams' ranking in an ongoing survey of celebrity trustworthiness had collapsed, from 23rd to 835th.
It's not surprising that his standing would drop after admitting to falsifying a story about being shot at while covering a war – real combat veterans aren't the only ones who take offense at that particular form of lie.
But what is somewhat shocking is the very notion of celebrity trustworthiness, as apparently measured by online polling.
Before his exposure, Williams apparently ranked well ahead of the likes of Anderson Cooper, at #304; Katie Couric, #359; and Matt Lauer, #751.
And you wonder – on what possible basis are these judgments made?
I have learned the hard way over the years that trust is a tricky business. It must be earned, and cannot be betrayed.
You know you can trust someone when you ask them to keep something confidential, and they do; when a complaint they might have about you is shared with you, not behind your back; when they treat you as they would like to be treated; when you can see, over time, that they do not betray the trust of others, and never lie to you.
Otherwise, let's face it, you don't have a clue.
And certainly none of the people polled online have the slightest idea if the people they now trust more than Williams are at all worthy of their ranking.
How do I know that?
Trust me.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
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