Quoted in the "profits conference" thread:

"I do see a new birth of human consciousness underway. And when these things happen they can sometimes happen very fast. So I cannot rule out at all the possibility that all of us are going to be looking at the mystery and meaning of life in a very different way very soon and that date 21st. of December 2012 sticks in my mind as one that is really worth consideration."
—Graham Hancock
www.greatmystery.org/events/...012.html

It's not difficult to spot the totally non-commital language that is so characteristic of this author. Note that he doesn't come right out and say objectively that "December 21, 2012 is worth consideration" but instead makes the statement "that date 21st. of December 2012 sticks in my mind as one that is really worth consideration." (In fact, something that simply sticks in one's mind as worth consideration may not actually be worth consideration.)

This is just one example of the kind of manipulative language that frequently comes from this author. A "hancockism" (I just coined the term) is a phrase that draws an unsophisticated reader to infer that just because something extremely unlikely cannot be completely eliminated as a possibility, it must therefore be the best and correct explanation.

The following would be an example:

"I cannot rule out at all the possibility that all of us are going to be looking at the mystery and meaning of life in a very different way very soon."
(Translation: All of us are going to be looking at the mystery and meaning of life in a very different way soon.")

Some other examples would be statements such as the following (which are not direct quotes from Hancock):

"It would be extremely premature to conclude that there is nothing significant that has has been hidden in Area 51."
(Translation: There is something significant hidden in Area 51.)

"Only a totally unreasonable person could be absolutely certain that we have not ever been visited by extraterrestrials."
(Translation: It is reasonable to conclude that we have been visited by ETs.)

"Based on a consideration of all the available data, it is simply impossible to state with certainty that there was not a highly advanced civilization that existed over 10,000 years ago."
(Translation: There was a highly advanced civilization that existed over 10,000 years ago.)

"Given everything we know about entheogens, it would be hasty to conclude that they do not provide windows into other dimensions."
(Translation: Entheogens provide windows into other dimensions.)

One last example:

"It would be completely irresponsible and unreasonable of me to completely eliminate the extremely remote possibility that this author may be in some way be intentionally using misleading language in order to manipulate his readers."
(Translation: This author is using language to manipulate his readers.)

If you've come across some other examples of "hancockisms," please post them to this thread.