Consider Palmistry

Consider palmistry.

There are techniques and books you can read. It is something you might be paid to do – perhaps there are even conferences. The evidence regarding its efficaciousness is doubtful but this doesn’t really matter - it is popular nonetheless. It satisfies some ill-defined need.

It might be comforting for cheiromancers to have some evidence - and if we try I am sure we can rustle some up.

Imagine someone at a palmistry conference saying 'What we need is metrics!'. Might you think 'actually, that's exactly what we don't need!'

I use the word ‘bureaucracy’  to describe these kinds of things: worlds of activities that spring up, with little connection to reality, but which provide jobs and a sense of satisfaction.

Our world is awash with bureaucracies. One might even say relies on them.

So when we ask, of a bureaucracy ‘does it work?’ it depends what question one is trying to answer.

‘Palmistry – does it work?’