> <---- Begin Forwarded Message ---->
> From: Charles Boyle <Charles.Boyle@jcu.edu.au>
> Subject: Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous Recommendations. (fwd)
>
> Dear Friends, this practical guide to hedge-hopping may be of value to us in
> those moments of conflict bewteen obligation and principle. And if you
> are reading things along these lines in the references you have just
> received, it provides timely dis-ambiguity.
>
> And may otherwise lift the spirits.
>
> with kind regards to us all,
> CHARLES
>
> Subject: Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous Recommendations. (fwd)
> Author: haynes@nsa.bahai.org.na at Internet-Gateway
> Date: 6/28/96 4:43 PM
>
> Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous Recommendations
> (Ways to handle those tricky situations! )
>
> You're called upon for an opinion of a friend who is extremely
> lazy. You don't want to lie --- but you also don't want to risk losing
> even a lazy friend.
>
> Try this line: "In my opinion," you say as sincerely as you can
> manage, "you will be very fortunate to get this person to work for
> you."
>
> This gem of double meaning is the creation of Robert Thornton, a
> professor of economics at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.
>
> Thornton was frustrated about an occupational hazard for teachers,
> having to write letters of recommendation for people with dubious
> qualifications, so he put together an arsenal of statements that can
> be read two ways.
>
> He calls his collection the Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous
> Recommendations. Or LIAR, for short.
>
> LIAR may be used to offer a negative opinion of the personal
> qualities, work habits or motivation of the candidate while allowing
> the candidate to believe that it is high praise, Thornton explained
> last week.
>
> Some examples from LIAR
>
> To describe a person who is totally inept: I most enthusiastically
> recommend this candidate with no qualifications whatsoever.
>
> To describe an ex-employee who had problems getting along with fellow
> workers: I am pleased to say that this candidate is a former colleague
> of mine.
>
> To describe a candidate who is so unproductive that the job would be
> better left unfilled: I can assure you that no person would be better
> for the job.
>
> To describe a job applicant who is not worth further consideration: I
> would urge you to waste no time in making this candidate an offer of
> employment.
>
> To describe a person with lackluster credentials: All in all, I cannot
> say enough good things about this candidate or recommend him too
> highly.
>
> Thornton pointed out that LIAR is not only useful in preserving
> friendships, but it also can help avoid serious legal trouble in a
> time when laws have eroded the confidentiality of letters of
> recommendation.
>
> In most states, he noted, job applicants have the right to read the
> letters of recommendations and can even file suit against the writer
> if the contents are negative.
>
> When the writer uses LIAR, however, whether perceived correctly or not
> by the candidate, the phrases are virtually litigation-proof, Thornton
> said.
>
>
>
> <---- End Forwarded Message ---->
Anyone want to try coming up with some more? :-)
--Terri Deems tdeems@unlgrad1.unl.edu
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>