An example of what makes Gladwell idiotic

Gladwell on college rankings
– authority is dumb
– conventional wisdom is wrong
– this hilarious dusty story from the 19th century shows you why this modern thing is probably just as foolish
– here are some quotes from a thoughtful fallible expert confessing he isnt certain
– watch me apply the logic over here to some unrelated thing over there to illustrate absurdity 

But always full of amusing anecdotes and details! 

(question: did gladwell go to a state school?) 

What College Rankings Really Tell Us : The New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_gladwell