How Naming Things Does Not Explain Everything About Them

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Humans have a fascination for labels.

Classification helps sort out and differentiate between different phenomena. It’s rooted in scientific methodology.

The problem is naming is like a map; it does not represent the territory.

Labels are descriptions; they are not explanations.

Take the mass resignation of millions of American employees last year.

First, experts called it The Great Resignation. Second, pundits described it as The Great Migration — a theory that said employees were migrating to better jobs.

Then came The Great Pause. According to this label, workers were taking mass sabbaticals.

Not satisfied with any of the above labels, some people created the Great Retirement. People were seeking early retirement, they said.

We cannot simplify complex social phenomena like mass quitting of employees into catchy labels.

The itch to baptise an evolving trend seems incurable.