What Is DefaultTrust (DT) and Why It Matters

DefaultTrust is the forum's invisible immune system. Most newcomers don't understand it, which is why most newcomers also don't realize when their trust feedback has been silenced or amplified by it.

The mechanic

By default, when you click a user's "Trust" tab, you see:

• Their own trust list view (who they trust + distrust)
• Trust feedback FROM people in their DT-1 view

Your default DT view is a curated set of long-standing accounts. These accounts then trust other accounts (DT-2). Anyone trusted by anyone in DT-1 or DT-2 has their feedback visible to you by default.

In practice, this means:

• Feedback from DT users appears prominently
• Feedback from random no-name accounts is hidden unless you opt in to wider trust views
• A DT user marking you negatively is a big deal — it propagates to everyone using default settings

Who's in DT

DT members are not chosen by theymos. They're chosen by each other — current DT members vote in new ones based on tenure, judgement, and contribution. It's a self-curating layer of forum trustees.

The list rotates. Some members get added quickly; others wait years. Some leave voluntarily; some get removed for trust abuse.

You can see the current DT list via community trackers (see the hidden tools guide).

What red trust actually means

When a DT member gives you negative trust:

• The feedback shows on your profile to most viewers
• Other DT members often check the linked reference and chime in (positively or negatively)
• Your account becomes harder to use for trades, signature campaigns, and services

A single well-documented red trust can functionally end your earning capacity on the forum. Trust references are evidence-based — vague "this guy is sketchy" tags often get challenged and removed; specific "this user scammed me, here's the proof" tags stick.

What positive DT trust does

The inverse is true: a positive trust from a DT member is meaningful trust. It signals to other DT members that you've done something worth vouching for — usually a successful trade, a sustained contribution, or repeated honesty in a tense situation.

Positive DT trust doesn't compound infinitely. After a handful of positives, additional ones add diminishing signal.

How to think about it as a newcomer

You won't be in DT for years (if ever). What matters is:

1. Don't earn red trust. Avoid trades you can't honor. Don't promote scams. Don't lie about anything material.
2. Build a public record of positive interactions. Successfully complete small trades. Help in your area. Get organic positive feedback from people you actually worked with.
3. Read the Reputation board. That's where the trust system plays out publicly. Spend an hour there; you'll learn faster than from any guide.

Common misconceptions

"DT is theymos's friends." No. It's self-electing among long-term contributors. theymos doesn't appoint DT members.

"If I disagree with my red trust, I'll get it removed by complaining." Almost never. The path is: document why the trust is wrong, post in Reputation, let evidence speak. Complaints alone don't move DT members.

"DT is unfair." It's imperfect, but the imperfection is a feature, not a bug. A perfectly fair system would be a perfectly gameable system. DT's subjective trust is what keeps it useful.

Bottom line

DefaultTrust isn't a popularity contest. It's the forum's institutional memory of who has, and hasn't, been honest. Treat it that way and it'll work in your favor over time.