http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2006/10/04/failure-to-tell-the-truth/ By Meryl Runion and SpeakStrong, Inc. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:55:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2006/10/04/failure-to-tell-the-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Kathleen Thu, 05 Oct 2006 13:10:20 +0000 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2006/10/04/failure-to-tell-the-truth/#comment-344 I agree. If you posed the question that way, most people would say failing to tell the truth is the same as a lie. But in the world of the English language at least, and in the murky world of politics and "news", I believe there is a nuance that comes into play. In the world as it is played out on news broadcasts and even "reality" television marketed as entertainment, we are so inundated with accusations and counter accusations. Most have a grain of truth and a whole lot of inuendo. Madison Avenue has turned lying and implication into a highly rewarded art. So I believe we are numbed to a degree. When I hear someone say "...he lied...", my reaction may be something like "..yeah yeah, well we'll see..." But when I hear the phrase "....failure to tell the truth..." I may be apt to pay a little bit more attention, or to pay attention in a slightly different way. I may suspend my skepticism a little. And that's part of the goal of anyone with a message to deliver to the public. I agree. If you posed the question that way, most people would say failing to tell the truth is the same as a lie. But in the world of the English language at least, and in the murky world of politics and “news”, I believe there is a nuance that comes into play. In the world as it is played out on news broadcasts and even “reality” television marketed as entertainment, we are so inundated with accusations and counter accusations. Most have a grain of truth and a whole lot of inuendo. Madison Avenue has turned lying and implication into a highly rewarded art. So I believe we are numbed to a degree. When I hear someone say “…he lied…”, my reaction may be something like “..yeah yeah, well we’ll see…” But when I hear the phrase “….failure to tell the truth…” I may be apt to pay a little bit more attention, or to pay attention in a slightly different way. I may suspend my skepticism a little. And that’s part of the goal of anyone with a message to deliver to the public.

]]> http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2006/10/04/failure-to-tell-the-truth/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Connie Thu, 05 Oct 2006 11:29:29 +0000 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2006/10/04/failure-to-tell-the-truth/#comment-343 While I completely agree with you, to hear a politico use a direct phrase or word just might be more than my little heart could take. Wouldn't that rank right up there with admitting to a "mistake"? While I completely agree with you, to hear a politico use a direct phrase or word just might be more than my little heart could take. Wouldn’t that rank right up there with admitting to a “mistake”?

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