In terms of moral compass and communication of data you are, compared to many of the alternatives you mentioned, a far better choice (surgical chops notwithstanding). Lovely piece.
But I pitched the idea for a mainstream paper when I started see fake conferences as well. They were not interested - said it was too insider baseball.
Thanks for your comment. Maybe the practice has flourished, in part at least, because it IS considered to be too “insider baseball” too often. The general public should always be given an opportunity to learn more about how the sausage is sometimes made. It’s not pretty.
Another story: Although I have a BA in literature my health writing over 30 years extended to writing for physician magazines and white papers and editorials for doctors. Then the director of a communications company hired me to write for her drug company clients. Little did I know this entailed writing up clinical trials complete with statistics and graphs (which I had no experience in) with little researcher input until I was finished writing. When we parted ways, I asked my boss "Why did you hire me? I sent you a collection of my articles and you can easily tell I don't have the background to write up a clinical trial. Her response? "Oh yes, but I just read the headlines." Live and learn.
If my parents had given me Albert as my middle name, my initials would be GAS - very appropriate as I write from Cancun, having had refrieds several times recently. I tried to capture me looking like the venerable Albert but he had a better hat and I haven’t worn a bow tie since I was 8. When people often pronounce my name “shh-wit-sir,” I often tell them, “No, it’s like Albert Schweitzer.” Too often I get the response, “Who’s that?” Sigh.
I'll be proud to call you "Colleague!" I wonder if the Bots have feelings and are hurt when I refuse to use AI, but substitute AS: Artificial Stupidity?
Gary, you may have missed your calling. You could have been writing a humor column these 52 years.
I might have been better at that. Good to hear from you, Collie.
In terms of moral compass and communication of data you are, compared to many of the alternatives you mentioned, a far better choice (surgical chops notwithstanding). Lovely piece.
God, I love this.
Great column. I agree you could have been writing humor all these years. Who knew? Very enjoyable read.
Yes, who knew that you could endure some of the common experiences we shared and still have a sense of humor? Or maybe endurance was because of humor.
I wrote about predatory journals for Neurology Today (https://journals.lww.com/neurotodayonline/fulltext/2019/10030/neurology_editors_identify_the_red_flags_of.14.aspx)
But I pitched the idea for a mainstream paper when I started see fake conferences as well. They were not interested - said it was too insider baseball.
Dawn,
Thanks for your comment. Maybe the practice has flourished, in part at least, because it IS considered to be too “insider baseball” too often. The general public should always be given an opportunity to learn more about how the sausage is sometimes made. It’s not pretty.
Your experience is funny.
Another story: Although I have a BA in literature my health writing over 30 years extended to writing for physician magazines and white papers and editorials for doctors. Then the director of a communications company hired me to write for her drug company clients. Little did I know this entailed writing up clinical trials complete with statistics and graphs (which I had no experience in) with little researcher input until I was finished writing. When we parted ways, I asked my boss "Why did you hire me? I sent you a collection of my articles and you can easily tell I don't have the background to write up a clinical trial. Her response? "Oh yes, but I just read the headlines." Live and learn.
And we know that unfortunately too many in all careers don’t get past the headlines of an article or past the abstract of a scientific paper.
Are you sure you're not related to Albert? There is a resemblance.
If my parents had given me Albert as my middle name, my initials would be GAS - very appropriate as I write from Cancun, having had refrieds several times recently. I tried to capture me looking like the venerable Albert but he had a better hat and I haven’t worn a bow tie since I was 8. When people often pronounce my name “shh-wit-sir,” I often tell them, “No, it’s like Albert Schweitzer.” Too often I get the response, “Who’s that?” Sigh.
I like your licorice, too.
😂😂😂
I'll be proud to call you "Colleague!" I wonder if the Bots have feelings and are hurt when I refuse to use AI, but substitute AS: Artificial Stupidity?