Black rhetoric

Author: Carsten Bremermeier
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features:
One of the most renowned contemporary rhetorical theories in Europe, a classic guide to eloquence, speech, and debate.
One of the best-selling contemporary rhetorical theories in Europe, a classic guide to eloquence, speech, and debate.
Best-selling in Germany, France, and other European countries, it is one of the most renowned contemporary rhetorical theories. This book is particularly revered by employees as a classic guide to eloquence, speech, and debate!
The art of conversation is not innate; communication methods can be learned. Whether you are an organizational leader, a professional who earns a living through speaking, or an ordinary office worker, do you want to demonstrate unique charm like an outstanding corporate CEO when chairing meetings, speaking to the media, participating in negotiations, or answering questions?
The author—Germany's most renowned "Rhetoric Doctor" and a top management consultant—teaches you to use the power and magic of language, leveraging all tools, methods, techniques, and opportunities to break the rules, surprise others, and guide the conversation or audience toward the desired outcome. With the right approach, you can create a win-win situation! Give it a try—skillful expression will unlock your potential, help you shine, and make things twice as effective with half the effort!
Dr. Carsten Bremermeier, a top management consultant and trainer in the German-speaking region of Europe, is renowned as the "Rhetoric Doctor."
Chapter: Black Rhetoric
On January 24, 2002, USA Today published an article titled "Silicon Valley CEOs Engage in a Verbal Battle Without Mercy," which described how Sun Microsystems and Oracle joined forces to attack Microsoft, with Bill Gates responding forcefully to every offensive remark.
During lengthy legal battles, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison had this to say: "Although we don’t particularly like Microsoft, we also won’t expect the government to help us."
This debate easily brings to mind the time when media mogul Ted Turner twice compared his rival, Rupert Murdoch, to Hitler, once even swearing an oath to the heavens.
The verbal sparring between CEOs in the tech industry is just as intense and ruthless. USA Today summarized it as follows: "To the public, these are extremely tasteless acts. However, many of their European counterparts do not see it that way. They cheer for this spirit of verbal combat, believing it confirms their prejudices—such people are common among them. They view it as the other side of economic warfare—a legalized form of black rhetoric in the economic sphere, particularly in newly emerging or declining sales markets, even those on the brink of collapse."
This emerging "verbal economy war" takes on many forms.
The CEO of American Bank called his rival, the CEO of Citigroup, a "Butthead" (a minor villain in a video game). The term can be translated in several ways, but I won’t elaborate on it here.
Former CEO of American Motors, Gerald Meyer, once concluded: "Malicious people are everywhere, but they usually don’t resort to the media. People might just complain over a martini in a local bar." But those days are long gone.
Bestselling author and popular consultant Rosabeth Moss Kanter once remarked on Silicon Valley’s IT industry: "Since it’s a new industry, it’s bound to have childish behavior, so we have to endure it." Hiding anger behind polite facades doesn’t help either side.