Shaming and conservation

[Dennis Piechota]

I stood at the podium for the first time ever in my young career. My presentation was on the use of enzymes to remove what I called 'hide glue'. After finishing there were at first no questions then a person from the dark back stood and said, "Don't you mean protein-based glues?" I remember feeling slapped. I had made a basic mistake that was brought to everyone's attention. I stuttered and with a red face said yes. Someone then shouted casually from the front without standing, "That's okay Dennis we all knew what you meant."

Though that was over forty-five years ago I still remember feeling shame and relief at the same time. I wondered what was this field. Was conservation a place where any error would be called out or was it a supporting community.

We all know about shaming comments. One never inures to them completely. While it exists in all professions shaming in conservation is especially potent because we start with such a small cohort which is then made even smaller through specialty groups. 

Shaming as a topic is uncomfortable. We rarely if ever discuss it and we prefer to call it 'non-constructive criticism'. But 'shaming' is more appropriate because it highlights its effect on young recipients. I cannot meaningfully apologize for my field. All I can say is, "That's okay we all know what you mean."

Dennis

Dennis Piechota

Archaeological Conservator

Fiske Center for Archaeological Research
UMass Boston
Office: 617-287-6829

ALTCONS Group Admin

an Alternative Conservation Discussion

[cynthia blechl]

Well stated, Dennis!!