How to Be Cool
In my continuing search for the silliest academic study, comes this one from the University of Rochester:
Coolness is ubiquitous in 21st-century life. Figuring out how to be“cool”is arguably a rite of passage in the network of many modern cultures that have otherwise abandoned rites of passage.
Most of those who pursue cool status can be frustrated by its elusiveness and fickleness, even as easy attainment of coolness is promised by consumer products and services worldwide. The term “cool” is routinely used to describe various individuals, but does such a descriptor truly contain trait-like information above and beyond its indication of likability and peer approval?
In order to study the construct of coolness, we use a nomological net approach (Cronbach & Meehl,1955), examining convergent and discriminant validity with respect to other constructs. We base our reasoning partly on a lexical hypothesis (Goldberg, 1993) that the construct of coolness has become embedded in language because it reflects a meaningful dimension of variation conveying information about persons. Our approach does not test specific hypotheses directly, but is nevertheless relevant to evaluating various scholarly accounts of the construct (e.g., Danesi, 1994; Frank, 1997; Majors & Mancini Billson, 1992; Pountain & Robins, 2000) with regard to how well these accounts capture popular understandings of coolness. Thus, we aim to identify a conceptual framework by which all hypotheses about cool may be tested in sub-sequent research.
Did you get all that? They asked college kids -- and why is it always college kids who show up for these studies? -- to define coolness. And what they came up with, as is usually the case after spending lots of grant money, is the obvious:
Participants generated 1,639 entries for the adjectives associated with coolness. Most of the entries appeared once(e.g., “accepted,” “zealous”), though some of them appeared repeatedly [e.g.,“confident”(54times),“awesome”(23 times)] or in different variations [e.g., “attractive” (28times), “beautiful” (5), “handsome” (5)].
On the other hand, they did find out something we've probably all suspected. "Coolness" often means "fits in well":
Our finding that Cachet and Contrarian coolness are perceived as potentially orthogonal or even moderately positively correlated is consistent with Frank’s (1997) suggestion that coolness as a counterculture force may no longer reflect an actually rebellious value system, but rather a kind of rebellious-looking conformity to current social forces,particularly consumerism. In addition to consumerism, the cool pose may confer other disadvantages: susceptibility to peer pressure (Cachet), smoking (Contrarian), drug use (Contrarian), and sex before sexual understanding...
Liberals are so cool.
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Apr '11
Re: How to Be Cool
I can't remember, was Fonzie Democrat or Republican?
Jun '10
Re: How to Be Cool
Obviously, like this:
Jan '11
Re: How to Be Cool
You know what I thought was cool (and still do). In Robert Heinlein's novel The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, the concept of Simon Jester.
Jan '11
Re: How to Be Cool
Check this out! Must have been prior to jumping the shark.
Sep '10
Re: How to Be Cool
Not Cool, man. Not cool.
May '12
Re: How to Be Cool
First off, that report. It is so simple a five year old can understand it.
Quick, get me a five year old. I can't make head or tail of it. [Flicks imaginary ash off imaginary cigar.]
And lastly, Henry Winkler, Republican or Democrat, is cool because he admitted to jumping the shark twice, the second a sand shark on a beach in the Hamptons, on Royal Pains.
Aaaayyy!
Edited on July 27, 2012 at 7:33pmNov '10
Re: How to Be Cool
Sonny Crockett was cool, and that's all you need to know. Sweet ride, sweeter clothes, a bren 10mm under his arm, and a smoke hanging lightly from his mouth. That's as cool as cool gets.
Jun '10
Re: How to Be Cool
Cool is fuel to liberals.
"Cool" is respect without achievement, style without the need for substance, standing out without having to step up, admiration without accomplishment, power without work. Cool is about magic; it is enchanting. The Fonzie touch epitomizes it. He has the "magic" touch. He gets the results of work without the work.
Keynesian multipliers are "cool."
But cool is built on the illusion of actual power. If fonzie didn't get the chicks, and couldn't make the music happen, and didn't have the lifestyle (all results of actual power), he wouldn't be cool, he would be a loser. Cool only lasts until your Achilles heel is exposed, then disenchantment sets in and it is just sad.
Conservatives aren't cool because they insist on actual achievement, understanding, substance - they want respect, not admiration; they are suspicious of cool, because they understand that illusions lead to disillusionment.
If there is any lemon/lemonade reason to applaud a second term for Obama, it is to avoid his martydom. Let him get a second term and fail, and perhaps, just perhaps, his rhetoric will become disenchanting, shown as the illusion that it is, and no longer "cool."
Jan '11
Re: How to Be Cool
As I recall, the definition of "cool" was updated in the 1960s by McLuhan - where TV was designated a "cool" medium. Cool meant unflappable, calm, or in control.
However, when I read sentences like:
.... I lose what little cool I have. Everything about that sentence warns the reader that horse manure will follow. The writer hopes that the reader will be so intimidated by the jargon that he'll give up any hope of close examination. Once the writer knows that no one is watching him closely (everyone has flipped pages to the end), the author is free to indulge in whatever nonsense he has planned, protected by the shield of assumed academic seriousness.
May '12
Re: How to Be Cool
In all fairness, academics of all political persuasion (including none) are quite capable of smearing a load of diarrhea all over the page, get it published, then ponce about as if they've actually accomplished something beyond the waste of perfectly good night soil.
Sep '10
Re: How to Be Cool
One of the few good things about reaching my age of mumblety-mumble years old is that I no longer care about being or looking "cool", of listening to the cool bands, etc. I couldn't care less. It's very freeing.
And hey, you kids, get off my lawn!
Mar '11
Re: How to Be Cool
I don't always answer questions about the essence of coolness. But when I do, I never rely on stuffy academic studies.
Stay cool, my friends.
Aug '10
Re: How to Be Cool
When I think "cool", I think Rochester.
Stay furry, my friends.
Edited on July 27, 2012 at 8:31pmMay '11
Re: How to Be Cool
Have they really been studying "Cool" since 1955? What LOSERS! C'mon gang, let's leave those LOSERS and go grab a burger.
Aug '10
Re: How to Be Cool
Sounds like a study conducted by Dr. Bumquist from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Jun '10
Re: How to Be Cool
Cool is grace under pressure. The ability to perform in dramatically adverse circumstances without interference from emotionality. So people act cool, buy cool, wear cool but its only when the chips are down that we know who really is cool. Sully Sullenberger is cool, Seal Team 6 is cool. 9-11 proved Rudy Giuliani's cool. Nagin during Katrina? Not so much. But Nagin acts cool and that is what most people think cool is. For a great opinion of cool look up The Derailers lyrics to "Uncool" and, of course, listen to it - it's really cool. (edit-tried to link but could not find)
Edited on July 27, 2012 at 9:47pmSep '10
Re: How to Be Cool
The "cool cats" not the "terminally hip or in crowd" always struck me as exhausted. They always needed a nap. They never got rattled and always had some kind of down home cool response to any situation. My friend, Stuart, we called him "Largey" (nicknames are essential) used to respond to any commentary by saying, "It's Edible."
So, in 1977, I started staying up late, watching Johnny Carson every night, followed by The Untouchables. I was almost late to high school almost every day. All I could think about was sleep. Consequently, the day-to-day drama drifted away. I'm not cool. I am exhausted.
Edited on July 28, 2012 at 1:36pmMay '10
Re: How to Be Cool
Being a total Square, I got no idea what cool is.
Mar '11
Re: How to Be Cool
I relate.
Nov '11
Re: How to Be Cool
One good thing that may come out of the current economic mess is fewer students taking classes in cool and more taking courses in engineering.