5. Grotesquely flatter your audience’s intelligence. Everybody likes to feel smart. Dumb people in particular presume they are smart, and are offended when you don’t comment on how smart they are. Oblige them. While you’re simplifying to the point of gibberish, compliment and cajole your audience on keeping up with you. Make ridiculously generous guesses as to their education level. Ask questions to which they already know the answer. Employ percentages.
WRONG: In the room the women come and go, talking of Michelangelo.
RIGHT: 95% of college graduates cannot name all four Ninja Turtles!
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