by Klaus Doring
The religious and philosophical writer Joseph Telushkin stressed many years ago: “If you can’t go for 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you have lost control of your tongue!” Wow, what a great and true statement. By the way, Telushkin lectured on the awesome power of words.
How many times did we hurt or insult people by choosing the wrong expressions and terms? Not only in our daily life, but also in business meetings or business deals… .?
Joseph Telushkin suggests taking a revealing “tongue test’ to see where you stand. I have written about it already several times in different publications. Telushkin’s advice is indeed awesome. “Monitor your conversation for two days, “ he says. “Not every time you say something negative about someone, who is NOT present. Also record, when others do so, as well as your reactions when it happens. Do you try to silence the speaker, or do you ask for more details?” Telushkin concludes, “Most of us who take this test are unpleasantly surprised.” Now, you can guess, why. And I have been really unpleasantly surprised, too…
Some people may not like if I quote the bible, but I found a good description in Proverbs 6:16-19, related to the cause and effect of damaging words: “Naughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissention among brothers”.
Yes, also written words can damage. I describe it as “aggression’s hotbed” in several write-ups. The power of words – in our daily personal life as well as in business, written as well as well as spoken out, is a weapon, which may be successful AND which can hurt – or even kill! A friendship, a relationship, a business deal! Eternal vigilance may be the price of freedom, even without a wicked pen and a sharp tongue.
+++++
In addition to my last week’s column here (“Glass House Internet”), I did get the information, that while the precise foundation of the complainant has not yet been released, German publishers had previously expressed their belief that Google profits from their online content without offering them a fair share of advertising revenue.
One of the main points in the complaint is believed to revolve around “snippets’ from media websites and news articles, which show up lists on Google search results. It’s amazing that publishers say Google hasn’t paid for the use of these articles, and that regulations must be tightened to protect the authors from plagiarism. Sure, as a writer for more then 40 years, I do agree with this. The German pusblishers VDZ and BDZV are not the only ones to have recently filed complaints against the Internet giant. – In Germany alone, Google earns almost 1,2 billion Euros a year on ads. Wow, wow, wow!!!
Email me to doringklaus@gmail.com or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or follow me in Facebook.
