an interesting dilemma...

[ArkieDukie]

The most recent development: I just received a response from the Research Integrity office. Based upon the email I forwarded, they feel that PPI is addressing my concerns and there's no need for them to get involved at this time.
Thoughts? Comments? It will be interesting to hear the thoughts of someone on the outside of this situation.

1. You're about to become PPI's best friend and most trusted associate of all time.
-or-
2. You're up shit's creek without a paddle.

I hope it's #1.

Thanks, Ozzie; so do I.

[captmojo]

Be number 1!
Be number 1!

[ArkieDukie]

Since I was stuck home today (sore throat/cold), I read through the manuscript and drafted a response to the message that I received last night from my boss and PPI. I channeled my inner windsor. I think the tone was nice, passive, and somewhat conciliatory - figured that might be in my best interest politically. I even gave them some suggestions on how they might address the issues with the data analysis. I think they were good, but PPI, The Minion, and my boss might disagree. I also closed with an apology. I did not say that I was wrong; I said there were instances where I probably could've handled things better.

I've also had somewhat extensive conversations regarding this situation with someone in academia who I consider to be a mentor. He shares my suspicion that someone in RI tipped off my boss and PPI, leading to last night's e-mail. If true, is that good or bad for me?

[lawgrad91]

The most recent development: I just received a response from the Research Integrity office. Based upon the email I forwarded, they feel that PPI is addressing my concerns and there's no need for them to get involved at this time. Does this mean that they really hadn't entered the picture yet?

RI is lazy? Or afraid to wade in for some reason?

[ArkieDukie]

The most recent development: I just received a response from the Research Integrity office. Based upon the email I forwarded, they feel that PPI is addressing my concerns and there's no need for them to get involved at this time. Does this mean that they really hadn't entered the picture yet?

RI is lazy? Or afraid to wade in for some reason?

In the e-mail I forwarded, PPI indicated a willingness to make the necessary changes in the manuscript. RI officer said they'd step in if necessary.

[ArkieDukie]

As the Manuscript Turns, The Weekend Edition:

I received a very nice e-mail from Pushy PI a few minutes ago, in response to the message I sent on Friday. He thanked me for my collegial tone and my thoughtful suggestions. In fact, he thought my suggestions would be helpful. Hey, maybe that horoscope for today (see LTE) was right after all! And, yet again, Pushy PI is looking a bit more like a stand-up guy. I'll remain cautiously optimistic on that point, given past events.

It appears that channeling my inner windsor, in addition to gut instinct with the apology, helped here. "Who's the asshole" here meant that I needed to use a nice, helpful tone, with constructive comments relating to points about the project that all of them appear to have forgotten. No need to say, "If you hadn't cut me from the project in the first place I wouldn't have to remind you of all this after you submitted your paper." In fact, I don't think I even implied it anywhere. Moreover, I also didn't need to say that The Minion should've remembered all this. It is, after all, her project. Why didn't The Minion remember why she had changed the experimental conditions? Why am I the one coming up with details from meetings held over a year ago? (Thank you, freakish memory!) Hopefully, someone here will learn the lesson that I may be "just a chemist", but my opinion has value. And you'd better not mess with me now that I know "WWWD?"

[Very Duke Blue]

AD, you ROCK!!!!!

[windsor]

As the Manuscript Turns, The Weekend Edition:

I received a very nice e-mail from Pushy PI a few minutes ago, in response to the message I sent on Friday. He thanked me for my collegial tone and my thoughtful suggestions. In fact, he thought my suggestions would be helpful. Hey, maybe that horoscope for today (see LTE) was right after all! And, yet again, Pushy PI is looking a bit more like a stand-up guy. I'll remain cautiously optimistic on that point, given past events.

It appears that channeling my inner windsor, in addition to gut instinct with the apology, helped here. "Who's the asshole" here meant that I needed to use a nice, helpful tone, with constructive comments relating to points about the project that all of them appear to have forgotten. No need to say, "If you hadn't cut me from the project in the first place I wouldn't have to remind you of all this after you submitted your paper." In fact, I don't think I even implied it anywhere. Moreover, I also didn't need to say that The Minion should've remembered all this. It is, after all, her project. Why didn't The Minion remember why she had changed the experimental conditions? Why am I the one coming up with details from meetings held over a year ago? (Thank you, freakish memory!) Hopefully, someone here will learn the lesson that I may be "just a chemist", but my opinion has value. And you'd better not mess with me now that I know "WWWD?"

Wish we had smiley doing back flips...just do not be too quick to put much trust in PPI. He may or may not be a stand up guy, but I think you have shown him that his butt is in the breeze. Ultimately no matter what the Minion did he is the responsible party. Keep you eyes and ears open...I'll be interested in seeing what (if anything) the Minion does. Has she been in the loop on these e-mails our is PPI end arounding her? How about your boss?

Can't wait for the next installment!

[OZZIE4DUKE]

As the Manuscript Turns, The Weekend Edition:

I received a very nice e-mail from Pushy PI a few minutes ago, in response to the message I sent on Friday. He thanked me for my collegial tone and my thoughtful suggestions. In fact, he thought my suggestions would be helpful. Hey, maybe that horoscope for today (see LTE) was right after all! And, yet again, Pushy PI is looking a bit more like a stand-up guy. I'll remain cautiously optimistic on that point, given past events.

It appears that channeling my inner windsor, in addition to gut instinct with the apology, helped here. "Who's the asshole" here meant that I needed to use a nice, helpful tone, with constructive comments relating to points about the project that all of them appear to have forgotten. No need to say, "If you hadn't cut me from the project in the first place I wouldn't have to remind you of all this after you submitted your paper." In fact, I don't think I even implied it anywhere. Moreover, I also didn't need to say that The Minion should've remembered all this. It is, after all, her project. Why didn't The Minion remember why she had changed the experimental conditions? Why am I the one coming up with details from meetings held over a year ago? (Thank you, freakish memory!) Hopefully, someone here will learn the lesson that I may be "just a chemist", but my opinion has value. And you'd better not mess with me now that I know "WWWD?"

Wish we had smiley doing back flips...just do not be too quick to put much trust in PPI. He may or may not be a stand up guy, but I think you have shown him that his butt is in the breeze. Ultimately no matter what the Minion did he is the responsible party. Keep you eyes and ears open...I'll be interested in seeing what (if anything) the Minion does. Has she been in the loop on these e-mails our is PPI end arounding her? How about your boss?

Can't wait for the next installment!

Yeah, I didn't respond last night because I wasn't really sure how to interpret AD's new information. Is it really good news? Maybe. Let's hope so, but what's in it for her? Way too early to tell. We don't know yet where the asses, and assholes, are going to fall. Would be nice if PPI would take you into his confidence and lay out his plan of action... yeah, right, like that's gonna happen. If he was smart, he'd hire Windsor as a consultant! I'll be your agent, we'll all "cash in" from CTN Consulting...

[Lavabe]

The good news is that PPI has been forced to pay attention REALLY CAREFULLY. That's good for several reasons:
1) The manuscript will change;
2) The Minion has been exposed;
3) It may actually force PPI to talk with Boss. And when I say TALK, I think he's going to be a lot more critical of Boss.

None of this excuses the previous behavior of PPI. However, his response to Research Integrity is going to be VERY important.

I like the tonal shifts. Ultimately, the big thing to watch is how Boss responds.

[ArkieDukie]

The good news is that PPI has been forced to pay attention REALLY CAREFULLY. That's good for several reasons:
1) The manuscript will change;
2) The Minion has been exposed;
3) It may actually force PPI to talk with Boss. And when I say TALK, I think he's going to be a lot more critical of Boss.

None of this excuses the previous behavior of PPI. However, his response to Research Integrity is going to be VERY important.

I like the tonal shifts. Ultimately, the big thing to watch is how Boss responds.

Exactly. My boss is on vacation for the next two weeks. It will be interesting to see his response when he returns. As it happens, I learned from my coworkers that my boss wasn't here on Friday. If they actually did hear something from Research Integrity on Thursday, that's how he got to start his vacation.

[windsor]

I have a nagging bad feeling about PPI...the situation does not smell right, it doesn't feel right. Don't have any reason...I just have a bad feeling....be vewwwy vewwwwy caweful.

[Lavabe]

I have a nagging bad feeling about PPI...the situation does not smell right, it doesn't feel right. Don't have any reason...I just have a bad feeling....be vewwwy vewwwwy caweful.

I don't trust him as well, but it looks like the Integrity folks contacted HIM. The Integrity folks will watch EVERYTHING he does.

I'm more leery of Boss.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Yeah, what Windsor and Lavabe said.

Was PHB's vacation scheduled, or was it impromptu? Maybe he's out job hunting!

[ArkieDukie]

Yeah, what Windsor and Lavabe said.

Was PHB's vacation scheduled, or was it impromptu? Maybe he's out job hunting!

PHB's vacation was scheduled. He goes to Maine around this time every year. A joyous time indeed.

[ArkieDukie]

I have a nagging bad feeling about PPI...the situation does not smell right, it doesn't feel right. Don't have any reason...I just have a bad feeling....be vewwwy vewwwwy caweful.

I don't trust him as well, but it looks like the Integrity folks contacted HIM. The Integrity folks will watch EVERYTHING he does.

I'm more leery of Boss.

I still don't trust them totally. This appears like a "placate, then stab in back" manuveur. As you may recall from earlier events in the thread, it has happened before. Pushy PI's e-mail was nice overall, but he left himself some wiggle room ("will make changes that all of us agree on" - yeah, right. That's how we got in our current predicament.).

Today was a calm day. PHB is out of town; no word from him at all. Nothing from Pushy PI after last night's e-mail. The Minion appeared in the lab late this afternoon, being her usual self. Sounded like she's going to be back in the lab tomorrow to run an experiment. If I had to guess, they're going to run the samples that I suggested for the manuscript.

[ArkieDukie]

PPI and Minion stopped by the lab today. Fortunately, I was talking on the phone at the time. He stuck his head in to say thank you to me, which I found interesting.

I sent another e-mail to him today in order to mention another inconsistency in the manuscript. I kept the tone nice, neutral, and passive. Details of inconsistency: let's say that you were doing some work in order to provide additional data for a manuscript, and the type of analysis you were doing was identical to something that was in the previous draft of the manuscript. Would you a) do it the way that it was done previously in order to be consistent, or b) do it a completely different way? If you chose b), sorry, but you think like The Minion. It absolutely boggles my mind. Why the heck would you make a point of doing a repeat analysis and then do the calculations differently? IMO it looks sloppy to do this sort of thing. I didn't say that to Pushy PI, though. I'll let him connect the dots to that point. It's not a particularly challenging line to draw.

[Lavabe]

Tuesday should be designated "Take A Tervuren to Work Day." ;)

[lawgrad91]

Tuesday should be designated "Take A Tervuren to Work Day." ;)

[windsor]

Tuesday should be designated "Take A Tervuren to Work Day." ;)

Wizard gives that post two paws UP!!