David Brooks, "Other People’s Views": You Miss Ann Landers and Dear Abby? Continue Missing Them!

Yesterday, The New York Times reported that its revenue in 2013 declined by 1.1% and that net income fell 52% to $65.1 million. Troublesome? Perhaps, but not to worry. David Brooks is here to save the Gray Lady from extinction.

In his latest New York Times op-ed entitled "Other People’s Views" (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/opinion/brooks-other-peoples-views.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0), David Brooks begins with four hypothetical questions intended to raise the issue of "When should you care about what other people think and when should you not?" In response to the case of a 40-year-old who wants "to leave accounting and become a hip-hop artist," Brooks writes:

"First, the hip-hop artist question. Here it might be best to defer to public opinion. People tend to make poor decisions at moments of life transition, so at these moments, lean in the direction of respecting to the wisdom of the crowd. Have a midlife crisis, but in less stereotypical form."

Fascinating! Have your midlife crisis, but conform to the wisdom of the crowd. Well, I've had several such "crises" over the past 60 years, and I will never give a damn what the "crowd" thinks. Mind you, I'm not advising you to "tell your buddy a dirty joke" (Brooks's example) or flatulate noisily (my example of what is socially acceptable throughout "progressive" Europe) in a crowded subway car, which in both instances could prove offensive to others around you. Yet bottom line, I still prefer Popeye to Brooks, i.e. "I am what I am and that's all what I am."

Brooks's astute conclusion regarding all of his hypothetical questions:

"To sum up, I can’t find any universal rules about when to defer to outside approval. It depends on the circumstances."

"It depends on the circumstances"? Sorry, Mr. Sulzberger, but David has no chance of replacing Eppie and Pauline and of saving your newspaper.

David Brooks, "How People Change": Anyone for Ann Landers?

“Make somebody happy today, and mind your own business.”
― Ann Landers

Attending the University of Chicago some 40 years ago and reading the works of Kant, Hume and Hegel, I could never read Ann Landers in public. Today, far removed from academia, I can acknowledge that her columns kept me amused on cold winter nights while struggling to prepare turgid term papers, which would ultimately find their way into garbage dumps throughout the great state of Illinois.

In his latest New York Times op-ed entitled "How People Change" (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/opinion/brooks-how-people-change.html), David Brooks would also provide us with advice:

"It’s foolhardy to try to persuade people to see the profound errors of their ways in the hope that mental change will lead to behavioral change. Instead, try to change superficial behavior first and hope that, if they act differently, they’ll eventually think differently. Lure people toward success with the promise of admiration instead of trying to punish failure with criticism. Positive rewards are more powerful."

Fascinating. I think I'll give it a try this morning:

"Of course you know, dear, how delighted I was when you read 'The Secret,' which promised to make us millionaires. And if we didn't become filthy rich, I take the blame - it's all because I didn't visualize the money hard enough.

Your latest preoccupation with 'rebirthing'? Go for it! Good air in! Bad air out! And not to worry about a thing - I've got the grocery bills covered.

That new sporty hybrid hatchback you've got your eyes on? Great idea! But you know, the organic food and vitamins are costing us a fortune, and I don't think we would want to sacrifice them for a car.

You know you don't look a day over eighty."

Well, at least I tried.

Cynical? Me? I don't think that's going to change anytime soon with or without positive rewards or promises of admiration. But of course there's no reason why that should stop me from trying to change the behavior of others.