Life Is Not Fair
http://www.casinogaming.com/columnists/dancer/2009/0128.html
<a
href="http://www.casinogaming.com/columnists/dancer/2009/0128.html">
http://www.casinogaming.com/columnists/dancer/2009/0128.html</a>
It is one thing to be astute enough to identify and take advantage
of loopholes that exist within set rules. However - using one of
Mr. Dancer's own carefully placed verbs - to "stretch" credulity by
drawing a comparison between skillful negotiating (to deal with some
matter or affair that requires ability for its successful handling)
and lying (to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive) seems
to me to be an effort to justify "morally questionable" behavior.
Early in the piece, Mr. Dancer relies upon the word: exaggerate;
the definition of which is - "to enlarge beyond bounds or the
truth". Further along in the article he, twice, employs the
phrase "stretch the truth" and denotes it as a necessary additive to
the skill-set of the "best salesman" if he/she wants to get the
prize. He then categorically states: "To me this is about winning
and losing. . . . It's rare that I've actually lied in these
situations (well, recently, at least), but I have `exaggerated the
situation sometimes if I thought it would help my side."
Now I completely agree with Mr. Dancer's premise that it is the
responsibility of each person to develop the necessary skills
of "salesmanship", "negotiation", and "influence", to take maximum
advantage of exploitable situations that may arise. Absolutely,
know the rules and find those "holes" that you can use to your best
interest. But when all is said and done, no amount of preparation
and knowledge can win out against a convincing "truth stretcher
(unless, perhaps, I have irrefutable knowledge that the "truth"
isn't!).
Neil M.
···
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "vpFae" <vpFae@...> wrote: