A quick addendum--I've tried, over the past few years, to really drop this phrase from my writing. In part for the reasons below, I find it insufficient, and vague. It feels like something you say when you know something's wrong, but you don't want to do the hard, intellectual work of specifically naming it. This is not out of any desire to please or be polite--I just don't find the term particularly rigorous.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.