Too Long; Didn't Read
Why are we, as humans, so obsessed with sounding intelligent? The number of times I've clicked out of an article in frustration is countless. I can’t stand jargon. And yet, I catch myself using it when I want to sound smart.
In my newsletter, for instance, I'm sure you've caught me using words like “paradigm” and “heuristics” when I could have just said “technique.” We all give in to using more intimidating words when a few simple ones would do.
Why? In my experience, it's a crutch we cling to when our understanding of something isn't quite what it could be. Our knowledge is limited, and so we make up for it by using more sophisticated words than necessary.
Richard Feynman thought so, too.
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