Trust

This isn't cynicism for its own sake. It is a rational adaptation to repeated exposure to systems that felt opaque, made promises they didn't keep, and asked for faith before delivering value.

This is not a personality trait or a generational problem. It is a cognitive survival mechanism. The brain treats the unfamiliar as a potential threat until proven otherwise.

Arthur C. Clarke's observation — that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic — cuts both ways.

Because magic, by definition, cannot be understood. And what cannot be understood cannot be trusted.

The black box problem: any product, system, or idea that doesn't explain itself — that asks users to simply accept that it works — is forcing them into a trust transaction they increasingly refuse to make.

"Believe me" is weaker currency than it used to be, because people now know how often charm can be manufactured, testimonials can be gamed, and authenticity can be faked.

So the challenge is not to lecture people out of skepticism. Their skepticism is often evidence-based. The challenge is to design in a way that gives them enough orientation to move from guarded to willing.