Tag: Kathy Kristof

5 Most Costly Lies in Finance (via Kathy Kristof at CBS Money Watch)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

Kathy Kristof
I am not always kind to Ms. Kristof. I find her writing fluffy with topics better associated with one of those women’s magazines like “Seven Better Ways to Make Your Man Appreciate You.”

Nevertheless I like this one and she has a done a service by hitting the golden oldies in business lies. I teach college and am often surprised how few of my students understand the most basic lies, cons and fallacious offers in the business world.

Here’s an excerpt. –

Unfortunately this confusing Wall Street-speak could put you in in a fog when approaching financial transactions. And that can make you vulnerable to people who would like to trick you out of your money. When salesmen and con artists see that your normal radar for bad advice, toxic investments and outright scams is getting nothing but fog (the potential result of all the hot air on Wall Street), they ramp up clever lies to separate you from your cash.

I recommend you go to CBS and read the five lies. You might say something nice about Ms. Kristof while you are there.

James Pilant

Dating And Money

On By southwerkIn ethics2 Comments

Okay, Americans are getting stupid. At least that is what you would believe if you watch the news. For mindbendingly stupid, banal, pointless articles, the American press is setting some records.

Well, take a look at CBS’s Moneywatch. That’s right we can’t call that part of the web site, business, because it doesn’t have that fresh marketing edge. So we say we’re watching money, in case the green stuff runs amok.

Today, there is a piece by Kathy Kristof, explaining how to get the girl. Let’s look at the opening –

Guys, it may not be fair, but if you want to get the girl, you’re going to have to pick up the check.

Well, I guess this type of writing has its place. I was more thinking of Cosmo than the business, oops, I mean Moneywatch section of CBS web site. But I guess as long as nothing else is going on that’s newsworthy, this kind of coverage is okay.

Oh, wait a minute. You tell me that a banking crisis that might very well require a bailout like the one two years ago is going on right now. Whoa, let’s not get critical. It’s not like we’re in the worst economic downturn since the great depression. It’s not like the world is shivering in fright over the possibility that one bank collapse, one nation’s default to the IMF, could drop the world’s banking system into a large garbage can. It’s not like we’re in a crisis in the United States where the government seems to have lost all semblance of competence or dignity. Nah, it’s not like that.

Let’s get some more Cosmo writers for the business, sorry!, Moneywatch parts of their web sites. Covering real news is tiring anyway.

James Pilant