The Virtues of Vagueness

This summer is turning out to be a real sizzler here in the South West of England.
On our little allotment in South Gloucestershire the plants have been almost visibly growing, to the great delight of Nosher and me.
'How much do you think the runner beans are growing every day?' I asked one lunchtime as we settled into our deckchairs in the shade at the side of Nosher's shed. He suddenly arose, darted into his shed, then appeared at the doorway clutching a dusty bottle of his excellent parsnip wine.
'I wouldn't like to say' he replied 'but it's fast enough for me.'
Nosher poured us each a glass of wine. Then he continued:
'There are some things about which vagueness is a veritible asset - mostly those things about which you don't feel the need to have an opinion, or don't feel there is enough information upon which to make up your mind, or about which a firm opinion might enflame the sentiments of others.'
'So the exact rate of growth of your runner beans falls into which category?' I persisted.
'All three' Nosher replied 'I know they're growing impressively fast, but exactly how fast is neither here nor there. I see no point in measuring their exact rate of growth - I don't pretend to be a scientist - and I don't want to get into a contest with you about how fast our beans are growing.'
'So what about religion?' I asked 'for example, Einstein was always notoriously vague about his exact views on religion, but apparently, in a letter written by him shortly before his death, he describes it as childish superstition. The letter is going up for auction in London this week.'
Nosher contemplated the wine in his wine glass for a few moments.
'The problem with expressing a view on religion' he said slowly 'is that it immediately is used as an excuse to pigeon-hole the individual by those who like everyone to be neatly pigeon-holed. I believe there are as many religions are there are believers, although some are more morally narcissistic than others, and some religions have an appalling track record of violence and brutality, which, for the most part, is conveniently ignored by their modern adherents.'
'So are you saying that expressing only vague opinions about religion is the best policy?' I said, feeling that Nosher was building up to something.
'Not exactly' he replied 'I'm saying that, with so much claimed by so many people about this or that religion, expressing unequivocal support or opposition to a religion is, in effect, making oneself a hostage to all those who might find in such an expression a target for their prejudices. Far better to be vague and leave the impression to that one views religion as an important and complex issue about which more needs to be known in order to form a cautious and well-considered opinion. That should keep most people happy whilst allowing you to get on with your life in peace, whatever your actual views might be.'
This came as a bit of a surprise, given that Nosher is not normally vague in his opinions.
'If you'll forgive me for saying, that sounds as if it might have much in common with hypocrisy' I ventured.
'You may well be right on that' Nosher said 'but if it is, it is a virtuous hypocrisy, and one that enables a lot of people with diametrically opposed views to get alone with one another, instead of being at each other's throats all the time.'
'Virtuous hypocrisy enables us all to get along?'
'Yep, that's about it.'
More from http://www.overthegardenfence.blogspot.com/ soon.
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Have a nice day!