...wow, where is everyone today? Still hungover from the Tonys?

I'm having a hard time concentrating on work today. Don't wanna. I had such a good weekend, I want it to happen again! (Sadly I don't think next weekend will be nearly as awesome, just because less is going on) I mean...date! 10k! Brownies! Friends! Dancing! Hookup! Soccer game with new friend! Vigil (sad)! Drinks after (still sad, but)! Though--the date from Friday went pretty well, I thought (though not sure if she was being all "let's be friends" during one point in the convo, or just talking?). But I suggested, yesterday, that we go kayaking wednesday or this weekend. And she was like sure, but how about on monday? And I texted this morning all "agh, sorry, my PT appointment got canceled and rescheduled today..." and she was like "Oh, I meant NEXT monday". Hah. Here I was all "Ooh, she wants to hang out RIGHT AWAY!"

Timelies all!

I'm so sorry, Drew.

Damn, the freelance manager is making me call the author who said "I need to go through each suggested edit." If this jackhole argues about every fucking comma, I am charging the AMA for 3 times the amount of actual time I spend on the phone with him, because fuck that. (She did actually email him and said "We understand you have a few concerns...please forward them to me," and he said "Please arrange a call because I need to go through each suggested edit." HELL NO.)

Let me be clear: if I made mistakes content-wise, I need to know that. The authors have all the data on their research, so if anything is presented incorrectly after editing, that's on me, and I want to know it, and will jump on it to change it. But if he's whining because we change "subjects" to "patients", I'ma head to Texas and punch this dude in the throat.

But if he's whining because we change "subjects" to "patients", I'ma head to Texas and punch this dude in the throat.

Is that your internal style? Interesting. For at least one previous company we were encouraged to call them "subjects" rather than "patients", because it was research and "patients" implied they might be getting actual care (as opposed to doing experimental things which might include placebo or might not benefit them), or some rationale like that? But of course I could also see an argument that that's de-humanizing them and/or de-emphasizing the requirement to care for patients (rather than "treat" "subjects")

"Subjects" is considered dehumanizing. If it's a study of actual patients who received care (like, comparing treatment A with treatment B among all patients with disease X), then we use "patients." If it's a study with a control group/volunteers who aren't actually patients with a disease/medical problem/whatever, then we use "individuals" (and yeah, it's annoying).

I'm not saying some elements of our style aren't annoying, but my job isn't to establish and defend our style; it's just to edit stuff so it adheres to style. So when authors piss and moan about it even though they knew it would be happening, I just want to throat-punch them.

Can you approach the conversation with the mindset of "If you feel our style requirements distort your article, you do, of course, have the right to withdraw your article from our publication" ?

oh mac. in an old familiar cycle. rules are actually being enforced and he has packed a bag and "left". I'm starting a timer for 30 min, then I'll start looking I guess.

Can you approach the conversation with the mindset of "If you feel our style requirements distort your article, you do, of course, have the right to withdraw your article from our publication" ?

I'm positive I'm not allowed to say anything even hinting at that. I'm too low on the ladder. I'm not even an actual AMA employee.

Mac, get back home right now, mister!

I'm not saying some elements of our style aren't annoying,

Oh, no, I was just intrigued by the choice/reasoning...I'm very much of the "occasionally things at work are worth fighting for but often they're worth noting, maybe commenting on, and then moving the fuck on with life"

in an old familiar cycle. rules are actually being enforced and he has packed a bag and "left".

Oh mac. I just don't understand his thought processes...Hope all turns out as OK as it can.