Dear Commenters
Thanks for reminding me why I don't really like blogging anymore.
posted by Ms.PhD @ 10:13 PM
12 comments
YoungFemaleScientist
Nothing is sacred.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Previous Posts
- Another poll or two
- Tidbits of rant.
- To the website formerly known as Change.gov
- Because I'm busy and lazy, a poll instead of a post
- Go for broke
- One-second plea to the universe
- One-second grammar rant.
- Reponse to comments saying "It's Not Sexism" and "...
- Practical magic: science vs. street smarts in acad...
- 2009, here we come!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Note: some of these blogs are no longer being updated, but I think their archives are worth a read.
Blogs I am amused by:
Phagenista
Dr.Isis new location
Dr.Isis former location
Thus Spake Zuska
Drugmonkey
Girlpostdoc
Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde
Doug Natelson
Incoherently Scattered Ponderings
EcoGeoFemme
Unbalanced reaction
I love science, really
Am I a Woman Scientist?
Geeka
Image Goddess
Jenny F. Scientist
Average Professor
Grrlscientist
Holly
Academic Self
Petrona
Academic Secret
Propter Doc
A scientist A broad
Dr Brazen Hussy
Science Professor
Dr Shellie
Open up my head and see what's on my mind
Science Woman
Caprichosa
The Cheerful Oncologist
Female Physicist
profgrrrl
ScienceBlogs.com
See Jane Compute
Thus Spake Zuska
Abel Pharmboy
SomeStuff
The Little Professor
Jess' Journal
Kind of Smart For a Girl
New Kid On the Hallway
This Academic Life
15 minute lunch
evil science chick
BlogOnBlog
I am prepared to give up at any time
fairer science
Radio Shack
12 Comments:
I'm guessing that is in reference to Mr./Ms. Anonymous's rude comments at the end of your rant post.
I'd say: who cares what this person thinks? They don't even have the balls to reveal their blogging identity (if applicable) - if you want to vent your frustrations about life, the lab, etc., go for it. All I do in my own blog is complain and post random, useless crap - and I don't care who reads it and what they say. But that's just me.
Hang in there, and good luck, MsPhD!
I assume you refer to the infestation of comments on your last post by anonymous, white, middle/upper class male dickwad morons?
I see what you mean.
Don't listen to them.
Seriously. They do not have a clue. And people who make anonymous snarky comments on other people's blogs have no life.
Feel sorry for them.
Do not stop blogging. I am not a native speaker therefore I cannot express my frustrations with what I see in science so clearly you usually do.
However, just so you know :)
- my PI reads your blog
- my lab mates read your blog
- many other people read your blog
and they all know - what you describe is unfortunately very true.
I do not have any doubts that you are a great scientist and that if you could get a chance you would be a good PI. And I am also sure that you can employ proposed here many times strategy "over dead bodies to faculty position", you simply chose not to and you are critized for this choice, and there lies the problem. I think most of your commenters disregard a very subtle issue.
The questions, which I think are too rarely asked, are: how the "over dead bodies" approach correlates with quality not quantity of science? How well it correlates with "me too" approach? How many ethical short-cuts are taken just to get paper in C/N/S? How many truly innovative ideas (and innovative scientists) are lost because they either do not know how to play the game or simply they do not want to participate? The problem is that currently scientific system promotes and selects for short-term over long-term gain and for good marketing over good science. It is easy to identify when marketing went too far when you have bought overprized shampoo - next time free market in action :), however in case of science such validation is far from simple.
I hope that there is a lot of good and ethical scientists in "over dead bodies" group, but I always wonder what is lost. All innovative scientists that I know (and I am lucky to know many) admit that they would have very low chances in the current system. Unfortunately, as I do not wish to reveal my identity, I cannot tell you what would be lost, but let's just say that life sciences would look differently today :) assuming lack of an adequate replacement.
I struggle with this problem. I do great science, I have a lot of innovative ideas and I do not have doubt that I could succeed. The problem is that even if I love science I have a lot of doubts about so-called scientific community, particularly when I see how selective pressure is applied ...
Summarizing :)
The problem is not that so-so scientists are lost in this selection, I think that what may be lost as well, are the best ones.
(((YFS)))
Just from reading past posts, you do seem to draw all the crazy anonymous posters. Maybe disable anonymous comments so they will at least have to work to be obnoxious (i.e. they would have to set up a bogus email account, etc.)?
Anyway, I just wanted to say you are not alone in your experiences and feelings. Unfortunately, many women have horribly negative experiences in academia.
Hang in there.
...and it reminds us why we don't like your blog anymore.
i've just started following your blog a bit, and when i scrolled through some previous comments, i understand why you could be turned away from blogging.
however, that being said, you could go to preferences in blogger and make it so that anyone posting anonymously is no longer allowed to post.
saves a lot of frustration.
If you stop blogging, my ears will stop ringing. I wouldn't want that.
This is that evil "7:45am" poster who apparently traumatized you so much. Look, if you want, I won't comment on your blog anymore. Believe it or not, I really don't enjoy seeing you miserable. But I really think the level of hate you show to your colleagues and men in general is really unfair and hypocritical. If I made similarly nasty comments about women it would be immediately considered to be sexism of the vilest kind.
An extreme example of your hypocrisy was your criticism of the 80 yr old PI who got a grant. A blatantly ageist comment; he might actually be qualified. And don't say it's about helping young people. You wouldn't have said that if he were 60.
Why do I get the feeling that the moment you get any power you'll start being every bit as abusive as these people you constantly cry over?
Anyhow, in deference to your mental state, I won't post on your blog again. But you shouldn't be surprised if in a blog this well-known you get some other dissenters.
Please don't stop blogging! Take a break if you must, but please don't stop.
I wish I had your blog to learn from when I was a grad student. I have experienced and observed most of the problems you blog about, but without hindsight and totally without guidance or mentorship I didn't always deal with them in the right way. As a result, I've made some bad career decisions, which I'm still paying the price for.
your blog is a valuable resource for students and postdocs who are not fortunate enough to have wonderful caring awesome PIs.
to Anon@10:06 : ...and it reminds us why we don't like your blog anymore.
No one is forcing you against your will to read this blog or anyone else. You are willingly reading this blog AND commenting, so what are you complaining about? If you don't like this blog, then stop reading it. How difficult is that??
YFS - You have an incredible perspective on what is and what is not working. Ignore the bozos.
Please don't stop blogging. I'm a woman science person and feel that a blog is really the only safe place to say some of these things that must be said. You validate many people's experiences with this blog, male and female, and provide valuable insight and advice.
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