Spoilt Rotten

1. Sentimentality undermines rational thought and policy-making

Sentimentality is the expression of emotion without judgment.

Emotional indulgence clouds judgment. Sentimentality, the expression of emotion without critical thinking, has permeated modern society and policy-making. This trend prioritizes feelings over facts, leading to ill-conceived decisions and policies. Public figures often appeal to emotions rather than reason, manipulating public opinion and avoiding complex realities.

Consequences of sentimental thinking:

• Ineffective policies based on emotional appeal rather than evidence
• Oversimplification of complex issues
• Resistance to criticism or alternative viewpoints
• Increased polarization in public discourse

2. Modern education systems prioritize feelings over facts

Never in the field of human history has so little been imparted to so many at such great expense.

Educational decline through misguided theories. Modern educational theories, rooted in romantic notions of childhood innocence and natural learning, have led to a decline in academic standards. These approaches, emphasizing self-esteem and spontaneous learning over structured instruction, have failed to impart essential knowledge and skills to students.

Consequences of sentimental education:

• Decreased literacy and numeracy skills
• Lowered academic standards to maintain self-esteem
• Neglect of critical thinking and analytical skills
• Inadequate preparation for higher education and the workforce

3. Public displays of emotion have become coercive and manipulative

Sentimentality then becomes coercive, that is to say manipulative in a threatening way.

Emotional blackmail in public discourse. The expectation of public emotional displays has become a form of social coercion. Individuals who do not conform to expected emotional responses are often criticized or ostracized. This trend has led to a culture of performative empathy and virtue signaling, where genuine feelings are less important than their public expression.

Manifestations of coercive sentimentality:

• Pressure to participate in public mourning or celebration
• Criticism of those who maintain emotional restraint
• Use of emotional appeals to silence dissent or criticism
• Manipulation of public opinion through orchestrated emotional displays

4. The cult of victimhood distorts justice and personal responsibility

To be a victim is to be a beneficiary of injustice.

Victimhood as social currency. The cult of victimhood has emerged as a powerful force in modern society, distorting concepts of justice and personal responsibility. This trend elevates victimhood to a desirable status, often leading to exaggerated or false claims of oppression or harm.

Consequences of victimhood culture:

• Erosion of personal responsibility
• Distortion of legal and social justice systems
• Incentivization of victim narratives for personal gain
• Neglect of genuine victims and their needs

5. Foreign aid often perpetuates poverty rather than alleviating it

Easily able to capture the lion's share of the aid that is given to their countries on the pretext that they are so poor, African elites have realised that there is wealth to be made from poverty.

Unintended consequences of well-intentioned aid. Foreign aid, often driven by sentimental notions of helping the poor, frequently perpetuates poverty rather than alleviating it. This occurs through various mechanisms, including corruption, dependency, and distortion of local economies.

Problems with foreign aid:

• Enrichment of corrupt elites at the expense of the poor
• Creation of dependency on external assistance
• Undermining of local industries and economic development
• Misallocation of resources based on donor priorities rather than local needs

6. Multiculturalism ignores cultural incompatibilities and realities

The fact that many multicultural societies are riven by hostility, even after hundreds of years, or that it is not altogether easy to reconcile western ideas of freedom with the death sentence for apostates that all four Sunni schools of legal interpretation advocate, as well as with many other precepts of Islamic law, slips away from the mind of multiculturalists as an eel is likely to slip through the hands of someone trying to catch one manually.

Naive assumptions about cultural harmony. Multiculturalism, driven by sentimental notions of universal human compatibility, often ignores real cultural differences and conflicts. This idealistic view fails to address the challenges of integrating diverse cultures with fundamentally different values and practices.

Challenges of multiculturalism:

• Overlooking incompatible cultural practices and beliefs
• Ignoring historical and ongoing conflicts between cultural groups
• Failure to address integration challenges
• Potential erosion of host culture values and social cohesion

7. Sentimentality in public policy leads to unintended consequences

Sentimentality has been the forerunner and accomplice of brutality wherever the policies suggested by it have been put into place.

Good intentions, harmful outcomes. Policies driven by sentimentality often lead to unintended and sometimes harmful consequences. The focus on emotional appeal rather than practical realities can result in policies that exacerbate the very problems they aim to solve.

Examples of sentimental policies and their consequences:

• Lenient criminal justice approaches leading to increased crime
• Educational policies prioritizing self-esteem over achievement, resulting in decreased competence
• Immigration policies ignoring integration challenges, fostering social tensions
• Foreign aid programs perpetuating dependency and corruption

Last updated: November 11, 2024