10 things I hate about women

9. Selective Gullibility

by Emily Hourican

Selective gullibility comes into effect when we confront the great charlatans of the age, the slimming snakeoil salesmen. One badly-doctored Before-and-After ad, one air-brushed naked supermodel, and we seem to switch our critical faculties right off.

How many independent studies into the effects of wonder creams have we all read? And how many industry rubbishings of the whole concept of miracles-in-a-pot? We know – in the objective part of our brains, the part that deals with facts – that slimming gels and anti-cellulite stuff don’t work and that super-diets are a myth. We know all this, the same way we know the basics of geometry and not to mix milk with orange juice... but we can’t seem to act on it. We just can’t stay away from the promises of being fuss-free fantastic.

This absurd gullibility isn’t confined to any particular social section or age-group. Neither is it linked to intelligence. CEOs of major companies, even scientists and at least one doctor of my acquaintance are all prepared to throw everything they know to the wind in favour of something they desperately hope to be true.

Women who have worked hard for every success they’ve had, who understand the basic equation of input and return, will allow themselves to believe that Elle MacPherson’s body is an attainable goal, regardless of genetics and the ravages of time.

And all because, hey, someone told them they’re worth it.