I cannot for the life of me understand what people* mean when they make vague claims of:
- unprecedented insight
- a new perspective on life/evolution/[insert something big here]
- meriting a fresh look at Life/Universe/[Everything]
- having important implications.
- bringing answers to some [major][open] questions
What do these things mean? What is the new insight? What does it imply?
*particularly scientists in the “Conclusion” section of their papers. I suspect that these phrases are used just to flesh out the section.
—
PS. I, too, am guilty of supplying vague terms when I don’t know what I am saying or what I want to say.
Suraksha said,
September 6, 2007 at 4:06 pm
=) This is what my dad refers to as ostentatious evincation of aggrandized erudition, which is a slight irony in itself.
the Monk said,
September 6, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Big words used by men with little to say.
camphor said,
September 6, 2007 at 7:17 pm
@S
And right too.
Your dad is fun.
@V
Twue, indeed.
You both just distilled my post into a single line!
Lady said,
September 7, 2007 at 1:35 am
Hmm, ” having important implications..” I do believe I have heard many government officals say that instead of being specific.
Arthur Quiller Couch said,
September 7, 2007 at 10:55 am
You should be a consultant, then.
Joshua Pantalleresco said,
October 5, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Where I come from, we hear big words with no meanings and they usually involve politics. Aggrandizing and enhancing concepts to sound important so they can sell something for a quick buck. It’s a con…sometimes.