Quebec politicians aim to impress with their charm far more than their compatriots elsewhere.Perhaps it's intrinsic to the Quebec culture, a central joie-de-vivre or insouciance compels Quebec politicians to connect with voters in an entertaining and endearing way, whereas politicians in other places where white Anglo Saxon Protestants are in greater numbers aim to impress with a more serious and thoughtful demeanor.
Politicians beyond Quebec's borders aim to prove that they are serious and competent administrators, while many Quebec politicians generally can't resist a chance to prove they can be the life of the party by waving flags parades or hit a dance floor for the cameras.
You can't blame them: charming politicians are better remembered and more easily forgiven than their charmless brethren, which is why Rene Levesque and Camilien Houde are more memorable than Daniel Johnson and Pierre Bourque.
A pair of elected officials from Quebec now appear to be in a battle to the death to prove their charm.
We're talking about folksy-talking Montreal mayor Denis Coderre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who would both wade through alligators to get in front of a camera.
Like beauty, charm is in the ear and eye of the beholder, so while there might be no absolute consensus on who is charming, we can also - like beauty - generally agree on who's got it and who doesn't.
My book says that Trudeau and Coderre are trying too hard. Trying to convince people to love you is a tough row to hoe. (Sounds like you know a thing or two about that - Chimples)
Questions need to be asked about what the quest for charm means to us as constituents and whether it's in our interest to elect politicians desperate to connect on that level.
Charm is defined as "the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick and verbally facile" in a Wikipedia page that frowns on the whole concept, implying that a charming person might be a psychopath, narcissist or social chameleon.
In spite of the suspicion cast on charming people, books and conferences designed to help increase your charm form a major industry. But little actual study appears to have been done on what charm brings to the people who have it.
The most charming people I have met, alas, are people of minor or moderate accomplishment, but I am not aware if this observation is supported by any scientific study.
(Admittedly it's possible that charm doesn't inhibit success, but rather unambitious people develop charm because they live lives free of oppressive worry.)
Meanwhile those I have known in positions of authority tend to have the social abilities of an undertaker.
Charm is generally associated with confidence but also entails a carefree and playful renunciation of rules and social conventions.
Charmers entertain us but they are, by definition, lovable scoundrels prioritizing personal seduction ahead of moral rectitude and solid calculation as the Hugh Grant character demonstrates in Bridget Jones' Diary.
So should Quebec politicians keep trying entertain us and ramp up their lovability?
Your non-charming answer: no. probably not.