Jerry Story wrote:

> Nothing works better than allopathy.
> This means: try nothing.

Have you ever seen L.I.A.R., the Lexicon of
Inconspicuously Ambiguous Recommendations?

http://www-personal.monash.edu.au/~nate/humor/liar.html


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.