[NerdsCentral]

Hi Scott,

I think I am reacting to the arrogance in the language. "This is how research works." is what you said. That is quite presumptuousness of you to say that because your language naturally suggests you are telling me something I don't already know. This is the case with this comment thread in general.

It could be cultural. In the UK, the way you and the other people on this particular comment thread frame words is really quite rude. I don't know where you are from so I cannot comment as it if you would know that or not.

If one were to say "Surely, this is how research works." then on offence would be taken. Or "As I am sure you know, this is how research works." But no, the words immediately speak to an assumption of ignorance on my part. That is offensive and I take offence.

I suspect also that news groups are easy places for people to make such mistakes. I have no idea how you think of me when typing. Do you imagine a 40 something doctor of computational quantum-mechanics trying to squeeze out a quick post before starting a day's work on the parser for a compiler for his client? Maybe you see a spotty teenager trying to wade beyond his depth?

I don't know you and you don't know me and so I suspect a little more automatic respect on both parts would not hurt.

Best wishes - AJ

[scott_s]

If I thought you knew it, I wouldn't say it. I don't see why that's offensive - I can see why you wouldn't like it, but your comments make it sound like you've never handled this kind of criticism before. Prefacing my statement with "surely" or "as I'm sure you know" would frankly be disingenuous, because I certainly did think you had not dealt with academic-style peer review.

This style of criticism - no frills, no pleasantries, not even necessarily any suggestions for improvements, just "this is what you did wrong" - is common when reviewing research. I, in fact, have five such reviews of my own work I need to rebut.