Graphology, Quacks and Politicians
November 28th, 2006 by Stephen
Radio 4 carried a story today which is also reported in the Daily Mail, that George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, got hold of some scrawled notes from Gordon Brown and presented them to a graphologist who proceeded to “analyse” them in an unflattering manner about Brown.
At the risk of sounding like I may be saying something in support of this Labour government (we wouldn’t want that!) I have to say that I am deeply troubled by Osborne’s lack of capacity for critical thinking, and how poorly this bodes should the Conservatives get into power.
In order that he may score some cheap political points against Borwn, one of the supposedly brightest minds of the conservative party has resorted to quackery on a par with fortune telling, homeopothy and ESP.
Osborne might as well have said that he had received a message from fairies at the bottom of his garden for all the credence we should give it.
The idea that we can tell anything about someone’s character from their handwriting has time and again been demonstrated to be arrant nonsense. Empirical studies repeatedly demonstrate that there is nothing in graphology – and yet supposedly intelligent people continue to use such analysis to make important judgements about people.
Shame on them, and shame on George Osborne for doing the same. If it were not for parliamentary privelege, Brown could probably sue him for libel.
Graphology tells you nothing about the character of someone whose writing is analysed.
But it speaks volumes about the person who commissioned the analysis.
Woolly minded. Lacking in critical thinking skills. A poor judge of character. Not given to consideration of the evidence.
If the Conservatives want to be taken seriously they should sack George Osborne.
