[eesmith]

No, I didn't say "play" was dismissive.

I said that describing the researcher's work as "play Viking", done as a way to monetize one's PhD, is dismissive.

The more so as the researcher was partially self-funded, and didn't have a PhD.

I don't think it's right to characterize everyone doing experimental archeology about Norse practices as "playing Viking", nor to only pick out those studying shipping routes.

The same for other fields - I wouldn't say that people researching how the ancient Romans made concrete are "playing Romans".

[Henchman21]

I’m not sure why you seem so fired up about this turn of phrase using the word “play”. But, in recognizing that you are, I’m simply going to let you do you and wish you well :)