Abstract

There are moments when experience tells you to
be less earnest and direct, and a little more Delphic in
style. At these times, half ideas can be useful and a little
lack of clarity can be effective.
As the redoubtable chair of the US Federal Reserve Alan
Greenspan was once heard to observe: 'I have learned to
mumble with great incoherence. If I seem unduly clear to
you, you must have misunderstood what I said.'
Helpful mumbling is certainly a feature of my present
working life. But of course there are always times
when clear and purposeful resolve is appropriate, particularly
when pursuing the cause of educators and
researchers in nursing.
And with the recent launch of a consultative document
on this issue by the DH national director of research
and development Professor Sally Davies (Department of
Health 2005a), this is clearly such a time.