New Zealand Listener Issue 32 2018

Assange is a useful case-study: the game changer who promises much but succumbs to grandiose self-delusion. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is about to face the music, with negotiations by Ecuador under way to end the asylum he was given in its British embassy. To invoke the Life of Brian, Assange turned out not to be the messiah, but a disconcertingly mixed bag. Like all false prophets, he was not entirely fake. He began with a righteous mission of using the internet to spread information powerful people wished to keep secret but that citizens had the right to know. Like so many messianic leaders, he soon adopted God-like airs and ruthless practices. Those who worked with him consistently report that he alone dictated what information was released, indifferent to the fact…

Assange is a useful case-study: the game changer who promises much but succumbs to grandiose self-delusion. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is about to face the music, with negotiations by Ecuador under way to end the asylum he was given in its British embassy. To invoke the Life of Brian, Assange turned out not to be the messiah, but a disconcertingly mixed bag. Like all false prophets, he was not entirely fake. He began with a righteous mission of using the internet to spread information powerful people wished to keep secret but that citizens had the right to know. Like so many messianic leaders, he soon adopted God-like airs and ruthless practices. Those who worked with him consistently report that he alone dictated what information was released, indifferent to the fact that innocent…

I’ll tell you why IQs are falling (“In our right mind”, July 28). People are not taught to think any more. They are taught to follow a set of instructions. At school, my granddaughter must work out her maths problems in a certain way, not one that suits her. She struggled until I showed her some alternative methods. Doctors are notorious for their strict adherence to a script. If an illness does not match the responses to their checklist, they’re often left floundering and misdiagnose, as happened to my son, who was discharged with a potentially lethal blood clot after being told his chest pains were the result of asthma. Helpdesk and call-centre staff are another example. They are not allowed to ask questions and think about the problems callers…

I’ll tell you why IQs are falling (“In our right mind”, July 28). People are not taught to think any more. They are taught to follow a set of instructions. At school, my granddaughter must work out her maths problems in a certain way, not one that suits her. She struggled until I showed her some alternative methods. Doctors are notorious for their strict adherence to a script. If an illness does not match the responses to their checklist, they’re often left floundering and misdiagnose, as happened to my son, who was discharged with a potentially lethal blood clot after being told his chest pains were the result of asthma. Helpdesk and call-centre staff are another example. They are not allowed to ask questions and think about the problems callers present them with…

WINNING CAPTION Elaine McGlinchey, Kawerau FINALISTS Boris Johnson: “I don’t know why they call me one-eyed …” – Margaret Cannon, Palmerston North Johnson: “By Jove, Gove! I was expecting the stab in the back but not the poke in the eye.” – Michael Ramsey, Auckland Johnson: “Damn, Trump backs me. That blows my chances of becoming PM.” – Bill Grant, Napier Johnson: “She called me a misjohnsonist!” – Tony Clemow, Kamo Johnson: “Donald just unfriended me.” – Paul Kelly, Palmerston North Johnson: “The letters on the bottom line? B_R_E_X_I_T”. – Hans Zindel, Palmerston North Johnson: “He wanted the name of my hairdresser but hated my large hands.” – Margaret Cannon, Palmerston North Johnson: “He wouldn’t give me Stormy Daniels’ phone number!” – Bernard Brown, Johnsonville Caption Competition {caption@listener.co.nz} TO ENTER Send your…

“Mr President, welcome to the land of the free press.” –billboard by newspaper Helsingin Sanomat as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump hit Helsinki “It’s a free country. And apparently Putin took us up on that offer.” – The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert “I do maintain that if your hair is wrong, your entire life is wrong.” – Morrissey, quoted in the Daily Telegraph “Hamilton is greatly improved by poor visibility.” – Stephen Stratford on Twitter “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” – Napoleon Bonaparte “Don’t taunt the alligator until after you’ve crossed the creek.” – Dan Rather “It’s better to prepare children rather than repair them.” – Jim Zimmerman, former Macy’s boss and advocate for early childhood education “There’s someone behind you on your good days and someone in front of you on…