Stings

There are lots of things in this world of ours that sting: bees, wasps, numerous sea creatures - to name a few. When that happens it hurts. In some cases, stings can even do major harm. But in all the animal kingdom - and I am including those of us who walk upright, are required to pay taxes, eat pizza and download music off the Internet - none has a bigger sting than people. We are both the smartest living creatures on the planet as well as the ones with the greatest capacity to inflict major harm with our stings. If that power was not enough, there are even times when we sting simply for the fun of it.

There is much chatter in the news these days about an attempt to sting by President Trump who, at a recent White House event, tossed a barb at U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren by calling her "Pocahontas." (Warren has been involved in a semi-controversy in recent months revolving have her allegedly claiming she is partially Native American.) Trump has used this nickname on her for nearly a year now, but what was new this time is that he did it at a ceremony honoring Native Americans. The point of this entry is not to criticize Trump, but to put a spotlight on the harm inserting a "sting" into an effort to communicate can do.

Taking a digs at another person is easy for any of us, especially when it involves someone we either do not like or respect or who has threatened us in some way. It is a very human thing to do. But that does not in any way excuse such action. Taking verbal pot shots at another may hurt the target's feelings or generate laughter, but even more so it erodes the credibility of the originator of those stings. They are less for it even if getting in a good "dig" gives them some sense of power. As communicators, we need to do all we can to keep our tendency to insult others to a minimum. Fair criticism is fine. But unfair and low-road communicating is not.