Ignorance Index

The Ignorance Index is an empirical rating system for talk shows invented by the American science fiction author Stephen Euin Cobb. It is defined as the ratio of interrupted sentences versus all sentences within a typical program, and is usually expressed as a percentage. The reasoning is that, since a sentence is an expression of an idea, an incomplete sentence is an incomplete idea, and a disregard for ideas that are whole and complete is one important aspect of ignorance.

Theoretically, the Ignorance Index offers a precise and unbiased quantitative measure of the information value of a program which can then be compared to the numerical value of any other such program. Its application is most logical for those programs which cover contentious subjects, such as politics, where the format begins with debate but often degenerates into heated argument.

Examples of typical Ignorance Index values include "Larry King Live" with 2%; "Crossfire" with 17%; and "The Jerry Springer Show" with a 61% "ignorance" measure. The index's inventor has said, "A poor rating for an entertainment program such as "The Jerry Springer Show" is probably not a concern, but poor ratings for shows that claim to discuss the important political and social issues of the day might be."

Conversely, the freedom of guests as a measure of intelligent discussion is not universally acknowledged. Larry King, for example, has been widely criticized for his "soft" approach, although some might argue that his approach is intended to put the guest at ease so they will reveal more of themselves.