Mi pregunta es: ¿en dónde puedo ir para obtener mi reputación de vuelta
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me; Wonderful little saying but so untrue. Sorry to write this may be one of some Expats favorite pass time.
We expats seem to have forgotten the definitions of the following, and how they affect others:
- slander,
- character assassination and
- defamation of character.
Slander
Synonyms: ASPERSE, BLACKEN, CALUMNIATE, DEFAME, LIBEL, MALIGN, SMEAR, TRADUCE, VILIFY
de•fame1
archaic: DISGRACE
2Libel or slander: to harm the reputation of by libel or slander
a: a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression
b (1): a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2): defamation of a person by written or representational means (3): the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures (4): the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel.
Character assassination
Part of Speech:
Noun
Definition: attack someone's reputation
Synonyms: ad hominem, blackening, dirty politics, dirty pool, dirty tricks, hatchet job, muckraking, mudslinging, name-calling, personal attack, slanderous attack, smear, smear campaign
Basic Definition of Slander
slander [?sl??nd?] noun
1. Law
1. Defamation in some transient form, as by spoken words, gestures, etc.
2. a slanderous statement, etc.
2. …any false or defamatory words spoken about a person; calumny
Libel vs. Slander
As we outlined above, slander deals with spoken defamation. Libel, on the other hand, deals with written defamation. One of the easiest ways to remember the difference between the two is that slander starts with an S as does spoken. Either way, if you are dealing with slander or libel, there are a lot of other things you need to think about above and beyond the difference between slander and libel.
It seems a favorite pass time of some expats with too much time on their hands, with questionable integrity, to speak or pass on “slander” and to participate in character assassination [not only of local business people and professionals, but also of other expats].
Upon arriving 3 years ago in Ecuador, my family and I went to some of the local meetings to meet people and to obtain useful information. We quickly learned of local people in the legal profession and real estate profession to avoid. We were told they lie, cheat, and over charge, “You cannot trust them”.
As time went by, we like all others, searched the internet for more information. Again we heard horrific stories of being cheated and of being taken advantage of by local Ecuadorians during business dealings.
My past profession was as a political consultant. I was used to dealing with liars, cheats and self-centered people out for their own best interest. My main job was opposition research, to find out the facts.
As time progressed we began to research many of these stories told over and over as true. I began to question the accuracy of the stories as they seemed like fish stories; the fish grew in size with every telling.
I found that the stories told about a particular real estate company and person being most venerated were just not true. In addition there was never any hard evidence given. When asked for the evidence, most of the time I would just get more unfounded accusations and spewing of words. In fact I never found any hard evidence just slander, unwritten words.
I heard the same about a local lawyer. Over and over the slander grew. Some expats even went to officials and filed complaints. It grew to the point of hearing that he was being investigated, as if investigated meant being guilty of something. Well, he was investigated because of the false accusation against him and found totally innocent. The officials found that he, and his law firm, had done nothing illegal or immoral.
What I found was that he wasn’t used to the “American” way of doing things, he made mistakes, his employees made mistakes and the government changed requirements, which was out of his control “. Bureaucracy was a problem too.
What I also found was that we Expats just didn’t understand the Ecuadorian way of doing things. I also found we just didn’t understand the business or professional culture here in Ecuador.
We wanted our work done now, done cheap, and I mean cheap. We didn’t believe these third world people’s time was worth anything; “It cost too much” “I can do it myself.” “They just don’t understand.” “They are stupid and their rules don’t make sense.
What many of us really moved here for was to take advantage: of the ignorance of the people, the cheap labor and the low prices. Many expect to use their superior knowledge to profit from the local people, cheap land , cheap labor ,cheap rents, and when they raise rates etc. (as is done back in the expat’s home country) we scream that we are being Gringoized. If I go to Loja California or Palm Springs I don’t expect the same prices as Burnet Texas, but I sure don’t scream I have been Texanized for the difference in prices. The old adage is still true, “You get what you pay for.” Over all, here in Ecuador we get much more that we pay for. For the money: more food, lower rents, lower taxi fares, lower gas prices, lower utilities, lower drink prices, lower professional prices, lower everything, yet we still gripe, defame and slander.
Excuse me! My mother used to say, Robert if you don’t have anything good to say don’t say anything at all.
So I ask you, “Does our being upset with someone or some service give us a right to slander someone?”
We recently had an upset customer. Although I didn’t agree with the client the disagreement was resolved in a professionally manner. We went to arbitration. We both presented our evidence and the arbitrator made a decision. We both won and lost. What was gained most from this for our company was not to take things for granted and to be more diligent.
We, as a visitor in a country, and out of common courtesy and decency, should check out these stories and go to the companies or professional and face them personally with the accusation(s) vs. spreading the rumors. If they cannot give a proper response or if they won’t, then walk away. We have had several come to our company and ask us hard questions. We have given hard evidence that contradicted what we have been accused of. We’ gained clients and friends through this process.
It’s very interesting that the people who don’t like to slander, gossip and sit around pontificating on how bad this or that company or professional is, aren’t usually the ones who put themselves in the situations to spread the rumors. They don’t like scaring the heck out of the newbies in town.
Are there true stories? Of course there are.
Should we be aware of things? Yes.
Should we do our due diligence? Yes.
But do it in fairness!!!
Check the source and the facts. Ask for the hard evidence. If you are told, “I heard it but the person who told me told me in confidence…” respond, “Are we still in junior high? This isn’t a game. We are dealing with people’s ability to make a living to take care of their families.”
My question is, “Where does one go to get his/her reputation back? Mi pregunta es: ¿en dónde puedo ir para obtener mi reputación de vuelta.
When does one get to repair the damage that false complaints have done to his/her career?
Mr. Tom Ross, in the US political realm, do you even care that you've destroyed the career of an innocent person? What about you Michael Toner? Do you care that your false allegations have impacted careers?
“Where do I go to get my reputation back? That was the question asked by Ray Donovan, Reagan's Labor Secretary, after he was found not guilty of corruption charges. It is the same question that many folks, found not guilty, ask.
Over and over this question, Mi pregunta es: ¿en dónde puedo ir para obtener mi reputación de vuelta
“Where do I go to get my reputation back “ has been asked as a person’s reputation and business, aspiration and hopes and dreams lie in shambles because someone choose to speak someone else’s “fish story”
We must rise higher than this type of activity and action. We have a moral obligation to put a stop to what is going on. We must stop the favorite America sport in Cuenca,” GOSSIPING “. If there is a wrong, this country has legal remedies. Take the accusation to the legal court, and deal with it the proper way. If the person is found guilty then they won’t be in business any longer to hurt or take advantage of anyone. Once hard evidence is proven, tell the world and warn everyone then it isn’t slander. It’s substantiated.
By Charles R Barrett, president of BCS Investments Firm and relocation Services of Ecuador
President @bcsinvestmentfirm.com
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