Around forty years ago, I was sitting with eleven other adults with visual impairments in the lounge at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization that trains dogs to be guide dogs, matches humans to the dog most likely to meet their needs, and nurtures the starting phase of the relationship. We were each waiting to find out which dog had been assigned to become our travel guardian.
“Peter,” the instructor told me. “Your dog is a Weimaraner—”
“A what?”…..
Trash talk — tearing them down to build us up — and trust talk — lowering our barriers to build up others — have value. Trash talk will probably harden the hearts of those on the other side while encouraging those on our side. Trust talk might enhance relationships with those on the other side while causing some on our side to criticize our character and competence.
But sometimes, trash talk is sold as trust talk.
I first became aware…..