#208: Words Like Snow, Pseudo-Profound Bullshit & Pointless Platitudes
3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Meaningless Drivel
I. Words Like Snow
George Orwell was a staunch advocate for clear and precise language. He often critiqued how words could be manipulated to distort reality:
Words fall upon the facts like soft snow, blurring the outlines and covering up all the details.
—George Orwell
I’m sure Orwell would’ve appreciated modern research on…
II. Pseudo-Profound Bullshit
Writing is hard. Producing meaningful words even more so. Scientifically speaking, Pseudo-Profound Bullshit refers to “seemingly impressive assertions that are presented as true and meaningful but are actually vacuous.” I tried my hand at it, philosophising about BJJ:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the esoteric whisper of the universe, manifesting in the delicate dance of dualities on the sacred mat. It is here that the practitioner’s spirit intertwines with the cosmic consciousness, unlocking the latent energies of the infinite within the folds of a sacred uniform. As the gi flows like a river through the timeless sands of existence, the practitioner taps into the astral plane of technique, unveiling the hidden truths of the cosmos.
That being said, the current state of research seems to be that people vary in their receptivity to pseudo-profound drivel. While simply being sceptic isn’t enough, more research is needed to help people guard against bullshit.
III. Pointless Platitudes
There are many things you can do to write more clearly. Gary Provost has the following self-demonstrating tip:
Clichés are a dime a dozen. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. They’ve been used once too often. They’ve outlived their usefulness. Their familiarity breeds contempt. They make the writer look as dumb as a doornail, and they cause the reader to sleep like a log. So be sly as a fox. Avoid clichés like the plague. If you start to use one, drop it like a hot potato. Instead, be smart as a whip. Write something that is fresh as a daisy, cute as a button, and sharp as a tack. Better safe than sorry.
—Gary Provost, 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing
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Have a great week,
Chris
themindcollection.com