The commentariat often overlook the dishonest rhetoric of politicians and big business executives because they understand it is rooted in Competitive Game Ethics governed by a set of rules that are a far cry from the ethics of morality. In most relationships, an attempt to deceive someone about your true intentions or abilities is not only immoral, but also constitutes fraudulent misrepresentation. In diplomacy, business and poker, however, the players are not only expected to deceive each other by “bluffing”, but they are rewarded for it so long as the deceptive practices do not cross the fuzzy line into the seedy realm of cheaters and liars.

To be clear, Sophistry is a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but fallacious method of reasoning, and Chicanery is the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or some other purpose. The abuse of words to advance unsound arguments and trick people into mistaken beliefs is an age old problem that small business owners should understand.

Indeed, trying to figure out when deceptions cross the line is a tricky business.

Has PF's "Business Bluffing" Crossed the Line?
 

 

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