Concept in Definition ABC

The notion of discretion relates almost exclusively to the mode of communication that can be established between two parties.

Action by which information is safeguarded or transmitted in a prudent manner

We understand by discretion the practice by which certain type of information is kept in secret or transmitted in a prudent and cautious manner according to the request of the source of information.

Discretion is an element of great importance when establishing bonds of confidence between two people who know and communicate with each other.

The foundation of trust

Surely if a friend tells us something he wants, it will be kept in reserve until he decides, and we tell it, he will be upset, but In addition, she will feel that we have hurt her confidence and she will never tell us anything important because she does not trust that we are capable of keeping the secret.

Most friendship relationships demand trust and many times the basis of that trust is to be reserved with some information that is known.

To be discreet is to be a person who does not communicate those data or information that have been specially classified as secret by another person.

In many cases, the discretion may have to do not with an explicit request from one of the parties but with the particular criterion of each individual that supposes the non-transmission of certain data due to ethical and moral reasons (for example, the disease of a person).

Clearly, discretion allows trust to be established between the different parties, since if it does not exist, confusions, interdictions and discussions can easily be generated.

Nowadays, thanks to communication advances (which allow the transfer of information in a matter of seconds) it becomes significantly difficult to maintenance levels of discretion in certain spaces such as, for example, the work or professional space.

Undoubtedly, technology has changed the way of acting and behaving in some contexts that, due to their relevance and the alarm they can generate, require discretion and prudence.

Let's think about the questions of state. There are many decisions that the president or the authority of a country can discuss with their collaborators or their intimate jurisdiction that they should remain there because if they meet in an abrupt or decontextualized way they could cause stupor among the population affected.

By case is that at present, taking into account this tremendous advanced technology, the filtration of information through social networks, and governments have oiled procedures communication and privacy, to prevent certain sensitive information from spreading in an inconvenient way.

Personal choice

In another aspect, the notion of discretion has to do with a particular person's sense of choice. Thus, noting that a certain choice was made by a person at her discretion means that that person acted according to her interests or preferences. An example of this situation can be letting a person choose their dressing room at their discretion, that is, according to their tastes. This meaning of the word discretion has little resemblance to the previous one.

Expenses associated with personal needs of a company or person

On the other hand, in the field of accounting we find the concept of discretionary expenses that are those made by a company or a company person who are especially linked to personal needs rather than real needs.

These expenses are variable, and in some situations they can be really onerous, and therefore it is important that each month they are controlled, to avoid unpleasant surprises in the economy of a company or a person.

Among these expenses we can include outings to eat, purchase of electronic equipment, supplies, clothing items, gifts, among others.

These are also often referred to as flexible.

We must emphasize regarding the same as when they occur in the economy of a country and therefore come from the state coffers, there may be an embezzlement by the official who manipulates.

Topics in Discretion