The problem here is scatterbrain editorship, not necessarily poor authorship.
British Dictionary definitions for scatterbrain
scatterbrain
/ˈskætəˌbreɪn/
noun
1.
a person who is incapable of serious thought or concentration
Word Origin and History for scatterbrain
n.
also scatter-brain, "thoughtless, giddy person, one incapable of serious, connected thought," 1764 (scatter-brained), from scatter (v.) + brain (n.). Related: Scatterbrained. Cf. scatter-good "spendthrift."
Slang definitions & phrases for scatterbrain
scatterbrain
noun
A silly or stupid person, esp one who cannot attend properly to a subject or get simple things done; ditz, rattlebrain: He's such a scatterbrain I don't look for a plausible theory from him(1790+)