Readers of this blog may (or may not) have noticed that this blog has remained silent on recent events in the profession related to climate, gender equity, sexually inappropriate behavior (up to and including allegations of criminal sexual assault against a senior member of the profession), etc. As owner and head moderator of the Cocoon, the question of whether to discuss these issues here (and if so, how) is something I have struggled with. On the one hand, I am inclined to think we all share a moral duty to contribute — in ways large and small — to help make our discipline a safer, more professional, more ethical place. I am also inclined to think that online discussions can play a role in this, by enabling people to debate the issues (though, of course, I also think online discussions have a tendency to devolve into counterproductive accusations, speculations, etc.). Finally, I am resolved in my personal and professional life to not remain a bystander to wrongs and injustices. Again, I think — and yes, this is just my opinion — that we all share moral duties not to simply sit by and let bad things happen, and that even if we can only help respond to injustices/etc. in small ways, we should do so.
While all of these considerations seem to me to point in favor of discussing recent events in the profession — including all of the ethical questions people have been raising on other blogs — it is unclear to me (A) how to do so in way that is consistent with the safe-and-supportive mission of this blog, and (B) how to properly weigh my sense of obligation to you all to maintain this blog's safe and supportive atmosphere against whatever obligations I/we have to help realize a more ethical, equitable profession (e.g. through discussion of recent issues). In other words, I find myself a bit stuck. Although I don't want to overdramatize the dilemma I feel here — this is just a blog, after all — it is nevertheless one I find myself facing.
Finally, given that this is not my blog — I've always intended for it to be a community blog above all else — it seems to me that the most appropriate thing to do in the situation is open the question up to you all: how do you, the Cocoon community and readership, think this blog could best approach the kinds of climate/gender/harrassment/etc. issues facing the profession (particularly in light of recent events)? Any and all thoughts (consistent with this blog's mission, of course) would be much appreciated (by me, at least:).
Leave a Reply