[April 2004 journal entry]
The utility pole climbers knew to examine repeatedly and regularly their security belts (and other equipment). They knew to protect their security belts from unnecessary damage or deterioration. I try to avoid trusting unconditionally any person or any idea I have not carefully/thoroughly tested (i.e., when the testing is the focus). In other words, I try only to trust a person or idea as far as I have tested that person or idea. I knowingly trust unconditionally a very few persons or ideas. I trust with varying levels of caution many persons. However, since ideas are linked, I trust fewer and fewer ideas as the level of caution increases or as the number of questionable links to other ideas increases. I test persons and ideas existentially as well as intellectually before putting any significant trust in them. I look for honesty, for consistency, for steadiness when ‘eye to eye’ with life’s severities. I have made mistakes, miscalculations.
