This whole episode has, in my mind, served to highlight why discussion about professional standards for science communicators is so relevant.
Look at it this way: the initial approach email was naive, enough evidence for a verbal ticking off for not doing ones job properly. The spoof response (especially the anonymity of it) was enough for a dismissal.
Any discussion on what constitutes professional standards for science communicators should include a discussion on what the community considers to be professional behaviour. I think this incident has inadvertently sparked off this discussion.
I would argue that if science communication wants to be taken as seriously as, say, science, then basic professional standards of behaviour must be observed. This would mean that the level of ridicule and subsequent avoidance of accountability displayed in the spoof email would be judged as completely unacceptable.
Liz Lister
-----Original Message-----
From: David Price <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 29 October 2010 14:21
Subject: Re: Spoof: Experiments for science TV series about Human Body
Totally agree with Jonathan - perhaps the point about all of this is what
kind of forum do you want this to be?
Assuming you believe that Peter's question was inappropriate there were
several things you could have done including...
a) Help Anyway
b) Write a helpful note explaining why the question was too open ended or
you thought it was inappropriate
c) Do nothing
d) Write a sarcastic response ridiculing someone and sending it to the whole
thread
Now if the list members want this to be a friendly forum where people feel
free to ask questions (you don't have to answer them!) and contribute then
you might want to think about a or b (or even c!). The trouble with option d
is that even though people may have found it amusing it is hardly going to
encourage Peter (or others) to contribute in the future is it?
Justified or not in intent, the response given was rude and insulting to
Peter and I'm also glad there were helpful replies.
David
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jonathan Sanderson
Sent: 28 October 2010 09:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Spoof: Experiments for science TV series about Human
Body
On 27 Oct 2010, at 19:30, Michael Kenward wrote:
> Anyone else who gets one of these annoying requests in future might like
to 'onpass them' to the Science Media Centre. That is why it is there.
OK, daft question from me, then: *is* that the role of the Science Media
Centre? I thought it was focussed on news media and journalists, rather than
assisting documentary or popular factual projects?
Certainly, the closest I ever got to using its services during my stint in
broadcast was crashing its Christmas party one year. Was I denying myself a
valuable resource?
[as for the cause of this thread; I've been that naive researcher, and I've
been the series producer banging his head on the table when my team fails to
do its homework and makes the production look foolish. I've also been the
guy called by the TV company looking for a demo, and subsequently screwed by
them. So I've sympathy on all sides.
I didn't think Peter's initial post was near as bad as some we've seen. I'll
confess to having been amused by Lazy Researcher's retort, but it's a bit
hard on Peter to be the focus of such scorn, and it doesn't foster the sort
of reputation I'd like the list to have. I'm glad there were some helpful
replies.
So no, I didn't write the satire. Kind of wish I had, though I suspect I
wouldn't have posted it.]
--
Jonathan Sanderson
"If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter" (Pascal)
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