Wednesday 24 August 2022
An Intentionist
‘Ford will create an impression in the part; but I don’t think the piece will run.’
‘And why? Because the public is too stupid?’
‘Partly, and partly because Price is only an intentionist. He cannot carry an idea quite through.’
George Moore – Vain Fortune (1891)
Intentionist - it’s a delightful word even if dictionaries don’t rate it. We elect intentionists, we are intentionists, we bond with other intentionists and learn how to become more intentionist ourselves.
Net Zero is an intentionist debacle. Trump was hated by intentionists because he isn’t one. Joe Biden is beyond all that but didn’t intend to be.
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4 comments:
Boris seems to be a good example of one. It's as if all his lifelong scheming and plotting was motivated by a vision of him enjoying the fruits of success, and ignoring the possibility of any actual work attached to it.
It's a comment on our society that intentionists do not carry things through to conclusion - and they are most of us. Perhaps because there are so many things to have intentions about, or that there are many more distractions diluting our intentions, or perhaps we pay too much attention to the opinions of others.
The sad cognitive bias is that having an intention is almost as rewarding as carrying out the associated action. I have many books in my book pile to read. There are DVDs and Blu Rays still in their cellophane wrappers... I intend to read or view them, but mere ownership satisfies most of my feelings of intention. YMMV.
It goes beyond the mere desire to achieve something. The politicos (and others), have intentions, tick a list and lo it is portrayed to the public as completed, without any further actions done.
Sam - it's remarkable but yes, he does seem to have ignored the possibility of any actual work, especially mastering some of the essential detail.
DJ - there is a great deal of pressure to have good intentions where those applying the pressure must know that in many cases good intentions are all they will ever be. Many cookery books seem to be sold on that basis. We bought a few - I think they are in a cupboard somewhere.
Tammly - and they tick the boxes even if the achievement is impossible as it is with Net Zero.
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