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2002-11-10
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Lexicon of Inconspicuously Ambiguous Recommendations (LIAR) (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.