A serious group in the UK is tacking the source of unintelligibly high-brow writing, suggesting that people be able to read what has been written. (Gasp.) Frequently the question of whether something is difficult to read depends simply on whether the reader agrees.

A certain amount of willful ignorance tends to make HOW you craft a narrative every bit as important as WHAT the narrative says.

Writers reflect and respond to this intuitively, it would seem. Some use humor, some mystery, and some cult of personality. In a recent interview, Maya Angelou suggests those who read her latest novel should be willing to take her on a small amount of faith to follow the journey and truly enjoy her novel. This is a departure from the often-quoted (and perhaps over-quoted) “keep it simple” mantra of trying hard to offend none, challenge none, and change none – a mentality that makes for bookshelves stocked with simple yet predictably retold parables. It’s efficient for a time, but like many aspects of a thriving society, is not infinitely sustainable.

With a recent study citing “1 adult American in five believes that the Sun revolves around Earth” I think we still have some discussion to go on what exactly makes for unclear vs. unwanted information. While some hide the unwanted nature of their work in unclear or highly technical jargon (in this case unwanted meaning undesired inspection from the reader on certain key and often misleading points being glossed over by the issuer) there are also times when bad writing is spiked up with purposefully aggressive unsavory terminology just to get an interaction where otherwise there would only be flat terrain. It isn’t an easy judgment call when looking at the motives and benefits of social communications. Largely it’s the psychology of understanding WHY the reader wants to cling to certain points, and HOW that effects the reception of other valid points.

Though why anyone might believe the sun to revolve around the earth, besides a bout of cherry or mild dyslexic hiccup, I can’t tell you. Perhaps it’s a mystery worth writing about.