Hypocrisy, Harvard, Francesca Gino, and the Tall Poppy Syndrome.
Do as I say, not as I do. ~ John Seldon
Pride, greed, and lust form an unhappy triad of emotions found in the TP, which justifies their fall from grace (see Anatomy of the TALL POPPY SYNDROME). However, nothing justifies cutting down a bona fide TP like hypocrisy. Subsequent schadenfreude is also always assured.
Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, or standards that one does not possess. It means saying one thing but doing another, especially when someone criticizes others for behaviors that they engage in. Hypocrisy is about not practicing what you preach and pretending to be better than you are.
The tallest tree always experiences the strongest winds. Chinese Proverb
Harvard University, founded in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Originally established to train Puritan ministers, Harvard quickly grew in scope and influence, becoming a central cultural and intellectual hub in colonial America.
Harvard expanded from a small college to a world-renowned university, adding professional schools in law, medicine, business, and more. Its graduates have played key roles in American history, including eight signers of the Declaration of Independence. Harvard is recognized globally for its academic excellence, extensive library system, and significant contributions to research and society.
Harvard leaders have publicly claimed a commitment to protecting free expression, even for objectionable or hateful views. However, multiple commentators and former affiliates have accused Harvard of hypocrisy for inconsistently applying its stated commitments to free expression and inclusion.
Critics point out that the university has swiftly sanctioned students for speech considered offensive on other grounds, such as using incorrect pronouns or making disparaging comments about weight, while failing to take decisive action against calls for violence or harassment targeting Jewish students. This perceived double standard—defending some controversial speech as "free expression" while punishing other types of speech—has been widely cited as hypocritical.
Harvard's response to high-profile incidents, such as the congressional testimony of former president Claudine Gay (see Ronald Sullivan: A Preposterous Victim of the Tall Poppy Syndrome) regarding antisemitic speech on campus, further fueled accusations of hypocrisy. Critics argue that the university's reluctance to unequivocally condemn calls for violence against Jews, while being quick to discipline others for less severe policy violations, demonstrates a selective application of its own rules and values.
The pot calling the kettle black.
Francesca Gino is an Italian-American behavioral scientist who was formerly a tenured professor at Harvard Business School (HBS), where she held the Tandon Family Professorship of Business Administration. Renowned, ironically, for her research on honesty, ethical behavior, and rule-breaking, Gino authored the influential Rebel Talent and published extensively in top academic journals. She was recognized as one of Harvard’s top-rated professors and one of the world’s most influential management thinkers.
Her reputation suffered a significant reversal after allegations emerged that she had manipulated data in multiple research studies. Following an internal investigation, Harvard concluded that Gino had falsified data in at least four studies.
In June 2023, she was placed on unpaid administrative leave, stripped of her title, and removed from leadership roles. In May 2025, Harvard took the rare step of revoking her tenure and terminating her employment, making her the first Harvard professor to lose tenure since the 1940s.
Gino has denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit against Harvard and others, but her defamation claims were dismissed in court.
May 23, 2025, Dr. Steve Pinker, professor of psychology at Harvard University and Tall Poppy, penned an op-ed for The New York Times, "Harvard Derangement Syndrome." He makes many significant considerations. People are vulnerable to availability bias, a mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating a specific topic. Human nature tends to remember the bad and forget the good.
More importantly, he discusses "splinting," which psychologists have identified as a form of black-and-white thinking wherein people can only conceive of another as either a prince or malevolent. Add these forms of cognitive bias to the armamentarium of cutters.
A skunk never smells its own stink.
Will we get over availability bias, splinting, or TPS? Not in my lifetime. ~ DG
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