It cuts both ways; and we all do it. The “substance” of X can be either qualitative or quantitative, but rarely both. If it lacks in substance, we believe that it can be made to look good by increasing its volume — i.e., heftiness = substantive relevance. If it possesses inherent substance, on the other hand, it rarely requires greater volume.
The disjunctive rule is often applied here: Things rarely contain both. Modern novels are a testament to the rule: Hundreds of pages with little to say. Then, look at Hemingway’s greatest work — The Old Man and the Sea. A short book; a masterpiece. Shakespeare is the best example of containing both — quality of work, quantity of work.
In modernity, volume gives the appearance of substance, even when there is very little of it. In a FERS Disability Retirement case, don’t think that gathering your decades-long medical records is sufficient to qualify for Federal Disability Retirement benefits. A qualitative medical report is often necessary. The converse is true, as well: OPM will write a long and meandering denial letter which has no logical or substantive input.
It is, again, the “Volume Appearance” — of trying to make it appear as though the volume of their denial letter accounts for its validity. It does not.
Contact a Federal Disability Attorney who specializes in OPM Disability Retirement Law in order to counteract the volume appearance — both for yourself in preparing the Federal Disability Retirement case, as well as in preempting OPM’s attempt to bamboozle you with a Volume Appearance Denial Letter — and no, the term “bamboozle” is not a legal/technical term, but it is what it is, as the modern colloquialism goes.
Sincerely, Robert R. McGill
Lawyer exclusively representing Federal and Postal employees to secure their Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.