Sometimes we flag the obviousness of what we’re about to say to avoid seeming condescending or clueless. In January 2021, facing criticism over the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an interview on the Today show, “Obviously, we have to do better than that.” He stated that he was stating the obvious—because not doing so would make him appear out of touch with public opinion. Sometimes, though, using the codicil “obvious” is meant to shame the listener: You haven’t read the memo, you are deficient in common sense. Indeed, the shame attached to missing the obvious—or to stating what is obvious while under the impression that it is not—runs deep. Nothing is worse than offering a brilliant suggestion, only to realize that many heads have already nodded it into action: The point has already been made, the proposal is in place. At such times, This story is from Kinfolk Issue Forty-Five Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 47 Alice Sheppard On dance as a channel to commune with the body—even when it hurts. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Dr. Woo Meet the tattoo artist who's inked LA. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Walt Odets The author and clinical psychologist on why self-acceptance is the key to a gay man's well-being. Arts & Culture Fashion Issue 47 A Picture of Health Xiaopeng Yuan photographs the world’s weirdest wellness cures. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Chani Nicholas and Sonya Passi Inside the astrology company on a mission to prove workplace well-being is more than a corporate tagline. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Julia Bainbridge On the life-enhancing potential of not drinking alcohol.
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Arts & Culture Issue 47 Walt Odets The author and clinical psychologist on why self-acceptance is the key to a gay man's well-being.
Arts & Culture Fashion Issue 47 A Picture of Health Xiaopeng Yuan photographs the world’s weirdest wellness cures.
Arts & Culture Issue 47 Chani Nicholas and Sonya Passi Inside the astrology company on a mission to prove workplace well-being is more than a corporate tagline.