9th November 2011, 11:08 PM
I'd be happy to criticise Andrew Selkirk....
He once described a session I chaired at an IfA conference something along the lines of a charade run by a bunch of unrepresentative Marxist apologists. The session was about mounting a defence of the established county and city archaeology units about to be decimated after the introduction of 'commercial' archaeology!!
I don't really care whether he publishes the best selling or worst selling archaeology magazine, but what I would say is that his presence over the past 30 years has been a hindrance to the professionalisation of UK archaeology. He would probably chalk that up as a victory for his view that amateurism is a valid manner in which to run an increasingly sophisticated profession. If you are currently working, the next time you receive your wage packet/salary slip be heartened to know that for every penny you are earning below the national average wage, a Selkirk or one of his cronies is raising a glass of claret and spitting it straight into your eye!!
As to his view that political correctness is running rife bear in mind that (as someone said on the radio last night) to most right thinking people, 'political correctness' per se is nothing more than politeness and decent considerate behaviour. As to his criticism of the Child Protection Register - we live in a world where such things are necessary. As to his view that the CBA is bad because it recieves grant funding, I guess he will be really happy that funding has now been cut and as a result several posts have been lost and the work of the CBA hampered. How can anyone have such a jaundiced view of the world and still claim to be a functioning part of it quite escapes me.....As Trowelfodder might say Rant Over!!
He once described a session I chaired at an IfA conference something along the lines of a charade run by a bunch of unrepresentative Marxist apologists. The session was about mounting a defence of the established county and city archaeology units about to be decimated after the introduction of 'commercial' archaeology!!
I don't really care whether he publishes the best selling or worst selling archaeology magazine, but what I would say is that his presence over the past 30 years has been a hindrance to the professionalisation of UK archaeology. He would probably chalk that up as a victory for his view that amateurism is a valid manner in which to run an increasingly sophisticated profession. If you are currently working, the next time you receive your wage packet/salary slip be heartened to know that for every penny you are earning below the national average wage, a Selkirk or one of his cronies is raising a glass of claret and spitting it straight into your eye!!
As to his view that political correctness is running rife bear in mind that (as someone said on the radio last night) to most right thinking people, 'political correctness' per se is nothing more than politeness and decent considerate behaviour. As to his criticism of the Child Protection Register - we live in a world where such things are necessary. As to his view that the CBA is bad because it recieves grant funding, I guess he will be really happy that funding has now been cut and as a result several posts have been lost and the work of the CBA hampered. How can anyone have such a jaundiced view of the world and still claim to be a functioning part of it quite escapes me.....As Trowelfodder might say Rant Over!!
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...