FW: [Fwd: Fw: LIAR (fwd)]

>      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.
>
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