greybeta | The difference between discretion and tact

dis·cre·tion
n.
1. The quality of being discreet; circumspection.
2. Ability or power to decide responsibly.
3. Freedom to act or judge on one's own: All the decisions were left to our discretion.

tact
n.
1. Acute sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with others, including the ability to speak or act without offending.

Basically, discretion would be not saying anything at all whereas tact would be saying the right things the right way. So let me tell you another reason why the red-headed Brigid and I are doomed to be friendly nemeses for the rest of our life. She knows how to use discretion, but she has very little tact. I have little discretion, but I know how to use tact.

I say this because yet another example of this occurred yesterday. Actually two examples. The first was at Tokyo Garden. The red-headed Brigid's roomie, Cassie, oganized a little get together for her birthday at a nice sushi place. Seven liberals and one ~~moderate~~ conservative was invited. Guess who the conservative was?

Matt: Yeah, discretion is when you write an email and send it to me instead of the person you were going to send it to.
Cassie: Who was the email for, Brigid?
Brigid: I'd prefer not to say here.
Micah: Was it me?
Brigid: No...
Cassie: Was it me?
Brigid: Not you either...
Esther: Is it someone sitting at this table?
Brigid: Maybe.
D2: Was it something I wrote in the Collegian?
Brigid: ...
D2: Wait, did you hear me, I said "Was it something I wrote in the Collegian?"
Brigid: ...
D2: Oh.

Hehehe. Well, both Matt and Brigid won Truman Scholarships last year for TU, and Micah just received his notice that he is a Truman Finalist, so you can see the company that the treehugging, red-headed Brigid keeps.

Well, remember the whole thing about the former opinion editor emailing me a rather nasty response? And I responded in kind? Brigid also was going to respond in kind to me (as she's good friends with the former opinion editor, as he was her personal protege to replace her as president of Young Democrats), but she used discretion and didn't send it to me. Of course, D2 being D2 meant that...

D2: It's okay, this is why I hate you Brigid.
Cassie: Wait, she invited you because she wanted to mend the fences...
D2: Don't worry, we've agreed to disagree on just about everything. I only hate her facetiously. I respect her, and in fact without her urging I would have never become the Opinion Editor for our campus newspaper.
Brigid: While I'm glad you are benefitting from your opportunity, I regret urging you to become Opinion Editor everytime I open up The Collegian (our campus newspaper).