ANGRY ACADEMICS–THE RHETORIC OF “DERANGED KILLERS.”

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Philip

ANGRY ACADEMICS—THE RHETORIC OF “DERANGED KILLERS.” My favorite example of the anger which can arise among academics comes from a dispute among classicists. I found it hard to find a link that explained what happened over ten years ago, but whatever happened gives a flavor of how heated academic disputes can become. It seems that one classicist felt strongly enough about the rhetoric in an adverse review to report him to the FBI as perhaps being the Unabomber. This article contains a correction that quotes the classicist as posting the following on a classics listserv: “My interaction with the FBI in this endeavor is pertinent because Hanson should, in the interests of fair disclosure, acknowledge that I voluntarily went to a law enforcement agency and likened his and his collaborator”s views to that of a deranged killer when he is asked to assess my work and my life.”]

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2 Responses to ANGRY ACADEMICS–THE RHETORIC OF “DERANGED KILLERS.”

  1. Mary Jane Schaefer says:
    November 11, 2009 at 10:34 AM

    Now this is something that if you read it in a novel you’d say, “Oh, come on, too far fetched.” On the other hand, Oscar Wilde put himself into a courtroom he had every interest in staying out of, knowing for himself what his actual behavior had been. And, even on the stand, this most brilliant of men couldn’t say neutral, unincriminating things. He had to be amusing, even if it meant ruining his life. Poor Oscar.

  2. Pingback: ACADEMICS BEHAVING BADLY—THE ASH TRAY ARGUMENT. | Pater Familias

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