https://blogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/blog/2019/09/27/the-concern-troll-in-everyone/ Culture, Politics, Academia and Other Shiny Objects Mon, 14 Oct 2019 21:11:20 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.15 https://blogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/blog/2019/09/27/the-concern-troll-in-everyone/comment-page-1/#comment-73582 Mon, 14 Oct 2019 21:11:20 +0000 https://blogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/?p=3257#comment-73582 The phenomenon you describe might be handily exemplified by a certain overexposed politician who resorts to the formation “people are saying …” to introduce an idea he himself wishes to discuss without having to take responsibility for it. How much this verbal tic distances those of us paying attention from true advocacy and public engagement is difficult to determine. No one is particularly fooled by the pose, which includes what you call “academic professionalism,” because it’s clear that thought leaders (journalists, politicians, CEOs, etc.) do indeed push narrative and promote policies, often rather vehemently. Branding and narrow-casting now require it. So the veil of objectivity may be present, but it’s also nearly transparent despite over-subtle gestures to the contrary.

]]>