Shooting the messenger (Long) - Posted by Alan-Baltimore
Posted by Alan-Baltimore on December 19, 2000 at 10:35:21:
I couldn?t agree more with Brad. I haven?t ever read or listened to any of Tony Robbins’ books but it has often bothered me that people often confuse the private failings of someone with the validity of what they say. (Also known as an ?ad hominem? attack). It?s easy to criticize a person for their personal behavior and then make the leap that since they can?t live a perfect life, it?s okay to disregard anything they might have to say.
The following are some examples of the fallacy of mistaking the truth and worth of the message with the messenger:
Albert Einstein dumped his first wife and child to marry a cousin.
Beethoven was notorious for the way he treated those that tried to befriend him and often sold ?exclusive? rights to his work to more than one publisher.
Richard Wagner was a known anti-Semite (yet he did hire a Jewish conductor to premiere several of his works!) and to this day his work is virtually banned in Israel.
Picasso was a womanizer and abused many of his wives and mistresses.
Frank Sinatra had many good friends in the Mafia.
Thomas Jefferson owned slaves and is thought to have slept with and had children by one of them.
I could go on in this vein but I think you get the point–a person?s talent, intelligence and philosophical insights don?t necessarily translate into sainthood. In all of these cases, our world would be very much poorer if the products of these tremendous minds were thrown out as being tainted by the type of lives led by their creators.
If you are a regular reader of this board you know the names JPiper, Bill Gatten, Phil Fernandez, Ed Garcia, Scook, etc. All of these people have a proven track record of being successful with some facet of creative real estate. However, you really don?t know what these people do ?offline.?
One of them might collect old shoes once worn by famous movie stars, another might like to roll around in orange marmalade under a full moon, and yet another might even kick his dog. (Sorry if I?m giving away any secrets–LOL).
Does this mean that anything they write here should be tagged with a big disclaimer? NO
Does this mean that I support what they do and would be their best friend? NO (though that marmalade thing might be worth a try
Does it mean that I won?t copy down what they have to say and try it in my own business? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The bottom line in all of this is that you have to judge for yourself the importance of what someone is saying by its truth, artistic merit, and practical application and forget about what the person does ?behind closed doors.?
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.