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I thank Ben for the mention of our videos, on which Emily Keeble worked hard to produce with my team. However, I am uncomfortable with any comparison between the very science-focused (and sciencey-audience targeted) nature of our videos
“vs.” other modes of science communication. In particular, the goals of Emily Graslie’s ‘Prehistoric Road Trip’, a series that I have loved and feel is one of the best in recent years, are different, so I feel uncomfortable with any implication (intentional or not) that our videos
have more “substance” than hers or others’. Indeed, what makes Graslie’s programmes so effective is their combination of science content and earnestly personal, emotional, enthusiastic substance—something that works well with the general public, which is why
they are on public television. Our videos are made for a rather different purpose; I do not think it is fair to compare “substance”. Diverse approaches to science communication are what the world needs. I wanted to clarify my opinion on that since I now feel
drawn into a broader matter on the list. On a closely related matter- I’ve been on the Dinosaur email list for about 25 years now; all of my career; and in the past 2 months I’ve seen the very worst behaviour I’ve ever seen here. All manner of racism, sexism, white saviourism,
and other bigotry. The past few days have scraped the bottom of the barrel. I am disgusted and I condemn many of the comments by a couple of posters. I can understand it somewhat through the lens of the hard times and feelings of anger and isolation that the
pandemic and BLM and more have all put us through, and how this has taken a toll on mental health or led to a perceived need for lashing out and juvenile trolling. But even with that understanding I feel I must speak out that I feel it is totally inappropriate
behaviour. I am saddened. I will not address the individual points but I felt I had to express that some of the list (minus the main troublemaker that departed already) could take a deep breath and return to the science. -Professor John R Hutchinson Ben Creisler Videos not yet mentioned about early dinosaur and archosaur locomotion (for people who want videos with a bit more substance)...
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