Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Being "Circumspect" Isn't A Bad Thing


I've gotten some questions about my reporting that Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Board members were "very circumspect" in their answers.

Some readers felt perhaps "circumspect" is a negative description. It's not. In some professions--like the judiciary and journalism--it's a virtue.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary says "circumspect" means "careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : Prudent ".

The Oxford American Thesaurus describes "circumspect" and "vigilant" as synonyms for: careful, cautious, wary, watchful, and alert.

It says "to be circumspect is to be watchful in all directions and with regard to all possible consequences ( | these journalists have to be circumspect, not criticizing anyone too harshly)".

1 comment:

Bram Reichbaum said...

Since you actually provided the audio podcast of the interview along with your description, I think that strengthens your ability to "go there" with circumspect.