The right words in the right sequence create information. Ideas that change our world.
The first kind of word salad allows the writer to hide. Fancy words, carefully juxtaposed, saying nothing. This can serve a valuable function for politicians, academics and bosses–but there’s no real information for the reader. It’s simply a collection of words pretending to be an idea.
The second kind of word salad is different. This is the reader’s choice. An idea that’s complex, frightening or brand new can be difficult to embrace. Dismissing it as word salad is the easiest way to maintain the status quo and move on.
The simple tell: Is anyone else getting the idea? If the emperor is actually wearing clothes, insisting that they’re naked doesn’t do you any good.
Important ideas often seem like word salad at first.