tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post5865254338048687703..comments2023-02-26T08:28:12.709-05:00Comments on Modern Medieval: Conference Report: 2nd Int'l Crusades Symposium (St. Louis University)Rick Goddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04109263756022001400noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-30246620101272332712010-07-19T12:09:58.731-04:002010-07-19T12:09:58.731-04:00Please why the Shepherds Crusade frequently ignore...Please why the Shepherds Crusade frequently ignored, I read about it in <a href="http://crusades-medieval.blogspot.com/2010/04/shepherds-crusade-1251.html" rel="nofollow">Shepherds Crusade 1251</a>King Tuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03028325472038557621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-85032140954368404042010-03-01T05:58:27.801-05:002010-03-01T05:58:27.801-05:00As someone who has been challenged pretty rigorous...As someone who has been challenged pretty rigorously at conference papers, I wholeheartedly endorse the idea that "bad" papers should be critically engaged with. It is something quite normal, and routine, at the "smaller" conferences I attend, and quite unheard of at the "mass-market" ones. I rather avoid AHA, AAS, Madison etc. (as a presenter) for exactly that reason. I want to be challenged, and to be taught. Silence gets me nothing.Manan Ahmedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10298964070805797658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-48228657331192681982010-02-26T15:27:10.895-05:002010-02-26T15:27:10.895-05:00Larry, I think we might actually agree. By "...Larry, I think we might actually agree. By "calling out," I certainly didn't mean that I should stand up and start screaming but at the same time, stuff that can't pass muster should be exposed as such, right? <br /><br />And why do we have to protect "bad" scholars (again, not "wrong", but "bad")? We should, to a degree, self-police, no?Matthew Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11971159578332078338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-70075491573285106772010-02-26T14:05:57.234-05:002010-02-26T14:05:57.234-05:00I rarely get questions about my papers. Even my d...I rarely get questions about my papers. Even my dissertation defense was pretty easy going. I guess based on this discussion, that tells me a lot about my work.<br /><br />Matt, I'm interested in your paper; so if you're willing to share, please do. If not, let us know where and when you publish!<br /><br />I don't think that a conference is the place to call out bad papers: there's the human equation to consider. Address a bad paper by taking the author for a drink, or after the talk suggest they look at X, Y, or perhaps A1 or whatever, or discuss it over email. But I think calling the author out at a conference session is dangerous in part because it can affect two careers in ways that go far beyond the paper in question. <br /><br />That doesn't mean that good, probing questions can't be asked, or that information can't be shared in the Q&A at a bad paper, but this should be done with caution and care because it isn't just about the paper, but about the person, the people with that person, the people with you, etc.....theswainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05919025515524894537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-57238061428844021492010-02-25T20:53:29.002-05:002010-02-25T20:53:29.002-05:00@Steve + Matthew
That is a fair point, and I would...@Steve + Matthew<br />That is a fair point, and I would never claim that intellectual dishonesty or bad ideas ought not to be challenged. However, my point (which may have been unclear) is that 'constructive criticism' becomes just 'criticism' very fast. I have seen talks dressed down pretty sternly by the audience before without malice, and I approve of this. However, I have also seen a well meaning critique become unpleasant quite fast. Perhaps this means that it is more the failure to handle the criticism correctly that is 'bad', rather than the act of criticism itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-27738015609097195212010-02-25T10:52:22.792-05:002010-02-25T10:52:22.792-05:00I think papers that could leave someone in the aud...I think papers that could leave someone in the audience with the idea that what was said was OK, when it wasn't, do need to be called out. I meet this particularly where numbers, statistics or dating from coins comes up, and you can easily find examples in the blog I guess. One doesn't have to mount a full-scale assault, just ask a leading question to sow doubt in the audience's mind, and then if they're concerned they'll ask you about it. That's how I approach it anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-61617336485961140162010-02-24T15:20:49.178-05:002010-02-24T15:20:49.178-05:00@fluidimaginings so, what if the paper is devoid o...@fluidimaginings so, what if the paper is devoid of ideas, or (as I said) is not intellectually honest with them?Matthew Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11971159578332078338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-79311684508788678472010-02-23T20:53:12.014-05:002010-02-23T20:53:12.014-05:00@fluidimaginings: what do you mean by "a scra...@fluidimaginings: what do you mean by "a scrap over ideas" and why is it bad? I got from the post that "bad" papers lack ideas, and that is what needs to be challenged.Steve Muhlbergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136005762428407135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3302491936414793074.post-57525141471253358102010-02-23T20:29:18.417-05:002010-02-23T20:29:18.417-05:00I'd say that I agree with both possible reacti...I'd say that I agree with both possible reactions to a 'bad' piece of scholarship. Whereas it is important to challenge flawed idea, and silence can be mistaken for approval, I love the collaborative and positive environment of conferences and wouldn't want to see it spoiled by a scrap over ideas. There is constructive criticism, and there is just criticism. <br />The worst presentations i've ever seen were created as a result of someone starting with an 'ism' (Postmodernism, i'm looking at you!) and then doing research, rather than doing research, and then considering what 'isms' might augment one's argument.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com