6 common PR platitudes (and what they really mean)
What you don’t know—but should—about common platitudes including ‘Jargon is bad’ and ‘Join the conversation.’
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The problem is, behind the rhetoric, there’s more to the story.
Here are six common platitudes and what people tend not to tell you about them:
1. Platitude: “Spin sucks,” or “Spin is bad and ultimately hurtful.”
What “they” don’t tell you: Spin may suck, but when the truth seems odious, unpalatable or liable to kill the bottom line, spinning can seem pretty appealing. That’s why most companies/politicians/humans do it every damn day (at least a little).
2. Platitude: “Engage,” or “Join the conversation.”
What “they” don’t tell you: Engagement is great. So, too, is talking. But, absent a sound strategy, chatter and interaction never fed anyone or their families.
What “they” also don’t tell you: You have to talk for a long while for “engagement” to pay off. Even then there are plenty of other factors—such as when, where and how you talk—that can screw up your plans.
3. Platitude: “Jargon is bad,” or “Speak in jargon-free language.”
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