In my program, How to Stay COOL When Things Heat UP!, I
discuss three Verbal Aikido techniques.
The first two are Selective Agreement and Limited Response.
I used to call the third technique, ‘Be the GOAT!’ I meant by that: take the high road, don’t push back, let it blow right over your
head, act innocent… A quick google search and I discovered ‘G.O.A.T.’ is an acronym for the expression 'greatest
of all time.' It’s commonly used in sports when referring to players who are
widely considered the most talented.
Today it’s social media slang for someone who is believed to be the best
at a certain skill.
But wait, there’s more! On February 1, 2004, the book Goat: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali was released,
referring to boxer Muhammad Ali as the 'greatest of all time.' And on September
12th, 2000, the rapper, LL Cool J, released his eighth studio album, G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). The album was a
commercial success, reaching the number one position on the U.S. Billboard 200
chart. I knew about Ali, of course; but clearly I’ve been behind a door when it comes to social media slang!
On my YouTube channel, you can view a video where I tell a story illustrating the use of the third Verbal Aikido technique. So what shall I call it? I’m leaning toward 'Intentional Innocence’. Any ideas?
