rynling: (Gator Strut)
Rynling R&D ([personal profile] rynling) wrote2020-05-05 04:00 pm

Down Here We All Float

I recently read through a threaded conversation on a subtweet and saw some rando (probably a grad student) saying that I only write positive reviews of the work published by my friends.

On one hand, that’s absolutely true!! My friends and professional colleagues do good work, and I think their writing should be appreciated and promoted.

On the other hand, I don’t really have much choice in the assignments I get. I have the ability to turn down review requests, I guess, but walking up to the editor of an academic journal and saying “let me review this” isn’t really a thing I can do. I mean, I could do it – there’s nothing stopping me – but writing academic book reviews is time-consuming and difficult, and I don’t have the energy for more than I’ve been formally requested to do and also my priority is writing pornographic fanfic.

On my third hand, I kind of want to be like, How about you become my friend so I can write positive reviews of your work too?

I feel like academia was already on the verge of collapse before the pandemic. It’s currently a horrible disaster, and an attitude that holds that “we all rise when the water level rises” is more relevant and pragmatic now than it’s ever been.

Post a comment in response:

If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting