The Benefits of Silence

There is wisdom in the old Egyptian proverb, "...silence is golden." In a world that seems to be increasingly noisy, without question at times all of us need a break from all sounds, even ones we like. It can actually be quite comforting to remove ourselves from television, cell phones, music, other voices, etc. and bask in the calm that silence provides. Such a periodic "time-out" is one way of recharging one's mental batteries. This seems to work for me, at least. At the same time, silence can be of benefit in other ways as well. For instance, it can be a buffer against noise one wants to avoid.


A stark example of that at present involves comedian/entertainer Bill Cosby. A number of  disturbing stories have been appearing in the press recently triggered by more than a dozen women who claim over the past several decades they were drugged and then raped or sexually assaulted by Cosby. Not surprisingly, such revelations are causing many who have been fans of this public figure to rethink their admiration for him. In response, through his attorney, Cosby remains silent. Other than releasing a statement in which he refutes the claims of these women, Cosby is resisting pressure to openly discuss charges that may very well bring his career to an abrupt end.


From a public relations perspective, the 77-year-old Cosby is wise to embrace silence. Any comments he makes would only add fuel to this raging fire. Sadly, this is the reality whether or not the charges being put forth by these women are true. Were Cosby to sit down with the press for a comprehensive interview, for instance, anything he said would in all probability incite the alleged victims to provide even  more graphic details to their encounters with him than they already have. Statements by Cosby might even make him vulnerable to legal action. Thus, in this terrible time in his life, silence is perhaps Cosby's best friend.