How can we improve RAT in 2012

[Nathan Ross]

Such professionals, as now and then one joins the forum because their work is discussed here, are always coming under attack by amateurs... followed by complaints to us... followed by the scholars losing interest and leaving the forum.

How intriguing! I know there's lots going on behind the scenes that us ordinary types don't get to see, but I can't think when these episodes might have happened. There have been occasions when authors and academics have responded to what might have been thought harsh critique of their work - Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow long ago, Miles Russell more recently - but in all these cases (as far as I'm aware) they've been treated with a respect and courtesy quite extraordinary in a public forum like this. I certainly don't recall anyone having their carefully-considered life's work hosed down by adolescent stupidity... but perhaps those posts were deleted?

Actually I've seen far more vicious spats in the pages of august academic journals than I've ever seen going on here. (bit of an exaggeration - but that's just the stuff that gets printed :-) )