2nd December 2008, 01:13 PM
I don't agree that a union should be formed from here... at best, BAJR should be a pressure group.
As for a common agenda... I think we are [u]all</u> agreed that UK archaeology is in a pretty crap state (and has been for a while).
Just by us being here - voicing our gripes, grumbles, diatribe and epithets proves that BAJR is more than just a "job site". I feel that it does (and should) have an influence in archaeology beyond mere advertising job specs and contact details... we are on this Forum for some reason - unless you come here just to fill in some down-time from the day job, just like the rhythm of yer own writing (move over Shakespear) or, as is quite likely now, somewhere to fill in time before signing on.
Where else should we go to voice our concerns? Where else gives you the opportunity? Where else is it likely that someone (a higher, management-type being) might actually read this? If some like Kathryn from the IfA posts to this Forum, then she MUST actually look at some of the other messages as well. She might actually provide feed-back to other IfA'ers as well. Heaven forbid, they might actually listen to her! Blimey, some of them might actually come here without her having to say anything! And, blimey, maybe one of them might actually change something one day.
I, for one, am proud to be a BAJR-ite. I may not be representative of archaeologists as a whole (I haven't touched mud for years), but I like to think at least I have my fellow archaeologists' concerns at heart. I'm also concerned about where archaeology is going (hence my "what do you think archaeology will be like in 5 to 10 years time?" thread). I also quite like to talk about archaeology now and again.
More than just a sheep, bleating on a hill
As for a common agenda... I think we are [u]all</u> agreed that UK archaeology is in a pretty crap state (and has been for a while).
Just by us being here - voicing our gripes, grumbles, diatribe and epithets proves that BAJR is more than just a "job site". I feel that it does (and should) have an influence in archaeology beyond mere advertising job specs and contact details... we are on this Forum for some reason - unless you come here just to fill in some down-time from the day job, just like the rhythm of yer own writing (move over Shakespear) or, as is quite likely now, somewhere to fill in time before signing on.
Where else should we go to voice our concerns? Where else gives you the opportunity? Where else is it likely that someone (a higher, management-type being) might actually read this? If some like Kathryn from the IfA posts to this Forum, then she MUST actually look at some of the other messages as well. She might actually provide feed-back to other IfA'ers as well. Heaven forbid, they might actually listen to her! Blimey, some of them might actually come here without her having to say anything! And, blimey, maybe one of them might actually change something one day.
I, for one, am proud to be a BAJR-ite. I may not be representative of archaeologists as a whole (I haven't touched mud for years), but I like to think at least I have my fellow archaeologists' concerns at heart. I'm also concerned about where archaeology is going (hence my "what do you think archaeology will be like in 5 to 10 years time?" thread). I also quite like to talk about archaeology now and again.
More than just a sheep, bleating on a hill