from Aubrey Kent at the Montreal Gazette,

The core of the National Hockey League labour dispute at this point lies in the “framing” of the problem.

Consider these two statements about the lockout:

1. Owners are demanding nothing but concessions.

2. Players are being offered more money than hockey players have ever been paid.

Both statements are categorically true, yet elicit vastly different reactions depending on who you are talking to. As much as we may like to demonize one side or the other in this affair, the reality is that both sides are telling the truth. The problem is that, for each side, their perspective has become the only perspective, and they aren’t looking at the deal on the table through unbiased eyes. But, as they say ... perspective is everything.

Improper framing often leads to a failure to properly identify the true problem. The owners can’t understand why the players would turn down so much money. The players can’t understand why the owners want to strip so much away after helping to grow the game.

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