Huh, interesting…

I meant to post a wholehearted agreement with Spencer Ackerman’s take on journalists using “interesting” in a story, but forgot until Andrew referred to it. So yes: A journalist using the word “interesting” is lazy, lazy writing. And I write it Every. Single. Time. I write a story. I mean, every single time. I find everything I write about “interesting.” Going through the first draft of any piece I write involves five minutes of locating the “interestings” and eliminating them like they’re Taliban dickheads who threw acid in the face of a young girl trying to attend elementary school. It drives me crazy.

But we journalists aren’t the only ones who do this. Check your emails: I guarantee you that you’ve said something was “interesting” without explaining why at least once a day for the last six months. I think there’s a certain element of solipsism inherent in this tic: If we think something is “interesting” then it must be, right? Why won’t you just take our word for it that this thing of which we write is interesting? Don’t make me explain myself. This isn’t a dissertation defense, is it?

It’s all oh-so-interesting. Isn’t it?