Fair enough, Andy. My point was absolutely NOT to denigrate competing ideas. As I hoped I indicated, i think what is important is for each and every one of us to hone our analytical skills in conjunction with our personal ethical beliefs and standards of behaviour. My concern with competition is when its aim is purely to cut down others because they exist or because we fear their role in our fields threatens us by existing. I guess I wasn't clear but I appreciate you weighing in as I do Lisa and Claudia. I had one person drop off reading my newsletter but I neither know who it was precisely nor why. As I say up front, I am not repeat NOT trying to dictate others' views (I am not a big fan of hypocrisy in one's actions versus words) but trying to stimulate measured, thoughtful conversation. That really is my deal.
I didn't take your piece as a denigration of competition (sorry if it came across that way!). The title made that clear, as did the body. It's just been rattling around in my brain how much hyperbole and emotion are flitting around out there these days and that this often undermines useful competition. Not that emotion is bad, it too drives us to great things...sometimes. I can't imagine someone dropping off because of what you wrote in this piece, and certainly don't see any hypocrisy.
I think I’m a proponent of both collaboration and competition. Competition is good for us all when competing ideas...compete. When competition devolves into ad hominem attacks the utility drains away and we might as well be 6 year olds telling our siblings that they are stupid heads. As we are all inundated with voices from so many sources, understanding how to evaluate poor arguments and faulty logic is important. As Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young put it “Teach Your Children Well.” Which you have so obviously done.
Fair enough, Andy. My point was absolutely NOT to denigrate competing ideas. As I hoped I indicated, i think what is important is for each and every one of us to hone our analytical skills in conjunction with our personal ethical beliefs and standards of behaviour. My concern with competition is when its aim is purely to cut down others because they exist or because we fear their role in our fields threatens us by existing. I guess I wasn't clear but I appreciate you weighing in as I do Lisa and Claudia. I had one person drop off reading my newsletter but I neither know who it was precisely nor why. As I say up front, I am not repeat NOT trying to dictate others' views (I am not a big fan of hypocrisy in one's actions versus words) but trying to stimulate measured, thoughtful conversation. That really is my deal.
I didn't take your piece as a denigration of competition (sorry if it came across that way!). The title made that clear, as did the body. It's just been rattling around in my brain how much hyperbole and emotion are flitting around out there these days and that this often undermines useful competition. Not that emotion is bad, it too drives us to great things...sometimes. I can't imagine someone dropping off because of what you wrote in this piece, and certainly don't see any hypocrisy.
Thank you greatly, Lisa. I just think we diminish ourselves by forgetting collaboration as a possible future. He was great, even Ifvi am biased.
And, of course, congratulations to Scott!
I think I’m a proponent of both collaboration and competition. Competition is good for us all when competing ideas...compete. When competition devolves into ad hominem attacks the utility drains away and we might as well be 6 year olds telling our siblings that they are stupid heads. As we are all inundated with voices from so many sources, understanding how to evaluate poor arguments and faulty logic is important. As Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young put it “Teach Your Children Well.” Which you have so obviously done.
Awesome piece Cynthia. Impossible to disagree. And congrats Scott!