DEEPLY SHALLOW

“Audacity of Hope” might be one of the worst book titles of all time, but for certain readers it obviously worked. And now we have an explanation why.

Keep thinkin’, thinky

“Audacity of Hope” might be one of the worst book titles of all time, but for certain readers it obviously worked. And now we have an explanation why.

The Independent reports:

A new scientific study has found that those who are receptive to pseudo-profound, intellectual-sounding 'bulls***' are less intelligent, less reflective, and more likely to be believe in conspiracy theories, the paranormal and alternative medicine …

As an example, they gave the following 'pseudo-profound' statement: "Hidden meaning transforms unparalleled abstract beauty."

The paper says: "Although this statement may seem to convey some sort of potentially profound meaning, it is merely a collection of buzzwords put together randomly in a sentence that retains syntactic structure."

It also recalls some of Jonathan Green’s more memorable lines. Take a look at this load of random words assembled by our ABC millionaire in such a fashion as to impress only the less intelligent and less reflective:

There must be a point at which we realise that empty dismissive anger will alter nothing, a point at which we will be reassured, in this suddenly connected and discursive world, that we are not alone, and that together we might force accountability and change. There must be a point at which we realise that this politics is us.

Yes. Yes. So very true. Further profundity from Jonathan:

It's a sign, a sign of the near collapse. And so we confront the shadows that confront us and skirt the substance of the problems themselves. The proxy has extended its ambit, become an excuse for not actually having a plan, a sweeping gesture instead of meaningful specifics. Our political leaders must surely have some sense of this country's deep, and growing, incapacity to service its sense of self. Blithe silence seems the consensus response to all of it, to burgeoning inequality, climate, and the end of work. The resulting vista is of a political inertia that extends to the horizon.

Couldn’t agree more. I think.

(Via Waxing Gibberish.)