Whats Good about PPS5

[kevin wooldridge]

In that case I think you and I and Vulpes agree...even coming at it from opposite directions!!

[Dinosaur]

At what point does an archaeological project become of any interest whatsoever to Joe Public? I suspect the average person-in-the-street's interest in monitoring of yet another tranche of water-main replacements in the Pennines will be approximately zero? Giving guided tours in the middle of a sewage works might be entertaining though....too much publicity might lead them to wonder why exactly their utilities bills and house prices are so high.... :face-thinks:

[Odinn]

At what point does an archaeological project become of any interest whatsoever to Joe Public?

I don't know. Let's ask them.

My experience on site suggests that some are interested in pretty much anything, some don't see the point of archaeology at all and most could not care less either way. Oh, and then there are those that think we are all sponging students still and should be shot on sight.

[BAJR]

Recently a Council Chief Exec said " Explain yourselves to us... we cannot understand you if you don't tell us, we can't include you in programs if you don't promote yourself" I paraphrase, but basicly, if we sit there expecting people to support us, we will get what we are getting now! OR we do make a concerted and vocal effort to explain our reality - a coherent why we do what we do and also why sometimes we find nothing, but if we do, then we have a duty - to communicate the information. And please gawd let it not be a mumbling monotone lecture read off a sheet of paper, as pictures and diagrams flash past on a poorly presented powerpoint. It is supposed to excite the public... to inspire people... SO when we do find something worth telling, then lets tell! If we explain why we don't invite people to every watching brief, then perhaps people will understand. Time to come out from behind the protection of the fence! PPS5 offers that opportunity. Nobody owes us anything - we have to earn it

[Comarch]

Recently a Council Chief Exec said " Explain yourselves to us... we cannot understand you if you don't tell us, we can't include you in programs if you don't promote yourself" I paraphrase, but basicly, if we sit there expecting people to support us, we will get what we are getting now! OR we do make a concerted and vocal effort to explain our reality - a coherent why we do what we do and also why sometimes we find nothing, but if we do, then we have a duty - to communicate the information. And please gawd let it not be a mumbling monotone lecture read off a sheet of paper, as pictures and diagrams flash past on a poorly presented powerpoint. It is supposed to excite the public... to inspire people... SO when we do find something worth telling, then lets tell! If we explain why we don't invite people to every watching brief, then perhaps people will understand. Time to come out from behind the protection of the fence! PPS5 offers that opportunity. Nobody owes us anything - we have to earn it

:face-approve: But the only way to avoid the "mumbling" is training in presentation and speaking. We may be born with the tool (brain) but it needs sharpening for various applications. Hope that the new CBA initiative is flexible enough for all the varied work that needs to be done in the next 20 years after the last two decades of giving the impression that the public should "get off moi laaand". Lets go the way of the PAS and have imbeded and trained people all over the country engaging with the public, not just communicating information but facilitating the access to material culture that's required to allow for a real contribution to our subject, and the use of existing skills and knowledge that non-archaeologists have.

[BAJR]

Hear HEar... Let not teh cuts fall too heavily on Outreach... the way to engage the public and get that all important support. I too hope the CBA initiative gets both backing and support from us.

[Dinosaur]

oh good grief, not more training courses, managed to avoid them for 25 years then the world went mad.....:0

[GnomeKing]

training IS important.....too many 'old lags' and managers treat it as a joke or box ticking exercise!!

it needs serious improvement yes, but not continual negativity....

(not that i always blame the 'old lags'...when you seem the same shit go off time and again, one tends to get cynical)

[Dinosaur]

What, so we end up with a generation of really safe PR people who still don't know which way round a shovel works? }

[Odinn]

training IS important.....too many 'old lags' and managers treat it as a joke or box ticking exercise!!

Very good point. It's not just some old lags and managers that do not take it seriously though. I have encountered staff at all levels and of all levels of experience that seem to think that training is a waste of their time. When you do try to organise training for them all you get is whinging. It is really rather demoralising and makes you wonder why you bother trying to help people at all.