User blog:Spikewitwicky/December 16th, 2017 - Spike's Journal Entry



So, I think I'm sort of getting this diplomatic thing...after nearly five years of doing this. I almost need a checklist for each of these styles of disasters. So...for this one - what to do when something or some one prints or says something that you SAID...but in reality, you didn't say it.

First, jump on that grenade. The more time the lie is out there, the more people begin to suspect. "Why did it take you two days to respond?" If you have proof that you didn't say what's printed...or what someone accuses you of saying, generate that. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. How many times do you go around with a recorder? Also, if you're in this diplomat game, people are going to trust you far less in confidence if they think every single thing they say to you is recorded (or as journalists say "on the record"). You may gain in the security of shit like what I went through may not happen, but you're going to lose a lot of intelligence and possible allies.

OK, so that's step one. The second, which sucks all ass - ride out the storm. If the rumor spreads, even if you get in front of it, it's going to be out. People are going to form their own opinion, and may not believe you. Worst case scenario, if whatever you do is newsworthy enough to actually land on the Internet, then you just have to act like it's a hurricane, and ride out the storm.

Finally, as bad as everything is...nothing is forever. Stuff eventually begins to take over. The president says something stupid. People start obsessing more over Star Wars spoilers. And suddenly, that big "blow up" is nothing. I haven't heard anything for the past few days. The retraction was printed. Some people still think I'm that arrogant to challenge the Decepticons to a fight. I would like to tell those people I was like that when I was much younger, but I had nearly six months laying in a hospital bed with little to no mobility to dwell on the power of my words, especially if I'm not able to back them up. If that didn't teach me a lesson, I don't know what will.

Anyway - another road bump crossed. Glad this footnote is finally behind me.