Unintelligible grumblings
How can you be so stupid, yet have a PhD in molecular biology? Wait, scratch that. How can you be so stupid, yet be capable of surviving your morning commute?
Two different authors sent me back their proofs this morning. Both of them completely neglected to follow clear instructions, rendering their corrections completely useless to me. Tell me, were my responses harsh?
E-mail No. 1
-----Original Message-----
From: C, Sarah
Sent: November 18, 2004 10:59 AM
To: 'Idiot No. 1'
Subject: RE: XXX PDF Manuscript proof
Importance: High
Dr. X,
I am implementing your changes, and require clarification on one point.
You have asked that on p. 6 the reference to Table 2 be changed to Table 4. Unfortunately, this is the first reference to Table 2 in the paper. Therefore, changing it will result in the tables being cited out of order in the text, and therefore the tables will have to be renumbered and their locations in the article changed. For example, since Table "4" is now the second table to be cited, it will be renumbered to be Table 2. The old Table "2" is now the last table to be mentioned in the article, so it will have to be renumbered to Table 4. Both tables will then have to switch places in the layout.
Please let me know if you wish me to proceed in this manner. Alternatively, provide me with a different location in which to cite the first reference to Table 4, ensuring that it comes after the first mentions of Tables 2 and 3. You will notice that, for your convenience, the first citations of all tables and figures were highlighted in pink text in the XXX.pdf file.
Please respond as soon as possible so that your article suffers no further delays.
Sincerely,
Sarah C.
E-mail No. 2
-----Original Message-----
From: Currie, Sarah
Sent: November 18, 2004 10:45 AM
To: 'Idiot No. 2'
Subject: Proofs for YYY
Importance: High
Dr. Y,
I have received your galley proofs, but unfortunately it appears that you have neglected to answer the copy editors queries on the copy-edited manuscript. I am enclosing a PDF of the copy-edited manuscript. The password to open it is xxxYYY. Please pay particular attention to the yellow highlighted text, and answer all of the editor's quesitons. Please provide me with your responses within 24 hours to ensure that your article suffers no further delay.
Sincerely,
Sarah C
Comments
No - not harsh at all. Very professional.
Posted by: heather at November 18, 2004 03:01 PM
I'd vote for too nice, but hey.. it's a fine balance, plus you have a built in CYA system so roll with it... it's their delay isn't it?
As to your question of how can you be so stupid? We'll having been exceptionally stupid on more than one occasion I'd have to say it's really not that hard. really... it's not... but then Kant makes a more compelling argument in his "what is Enlightenment?" (1784) essay....
Posted by: BlueNiner at November 22, 2004 10:22 PM