Spot The White-Ant

Thanks to continuing ripples from Aussie cricket cheating, I learn of white-anting;

…an Australian term for the process of internal erosion of a foundation. It is often used in reference to groups such as political parties or organisations where information from group insiders is ‘leaked’ or used to undermine the goals of the group. The verb “to white-ant” [also] means “to subvert or undermine from within”.

In the context through which I find this, their national side’s current skipper is perhaps being sidelined by the sacked and once banned predecessor, who instead is now possibly re-assuming captaincy decisions on the field of play.

As for etymology;

The term is derived from the action of termites (aka white ants) eating the inside of wooden building foundations, often leaving no outward evidence, until the structure crumbles.

There is a commonplace piece of deal politicking to note here.

Australian bloggers call it out as sabotage through to toxic; “you don’t usually see any sign of these pests until it’s too late. When you discover the serious damage they’ve caused.”

If the only signal is when your timber collapses, then how about discretely checking the wood for infestation?

Is there someone prospectside that can help you ensure no vital intel is being leaked by anyone? Test that your (shared) bid goals are not being actively thwarted? Spot that someone isn’t employing dark arts ranging from spreading outright hostility to the old divide-and-conquer trick?

Perhaps there’s a trusted way you have in the past deployed satisfactory precautionary measures which prevent the wannabe white-anter from ever taking hold too?

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