Talk:Derek Gregory
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Puffs and BAPPPs
[edit]This is yet another fawning elevation of an obscure academic - predictably a geographer - onto a pedestal, to whom we are then asked to genuflect. As in the case of other similar postings on Wikipedia (David Harvey, Michael Watts), it all appears to be the work of a single person. Perhaps he (or she) is merely pursuing the title 'Purveyor of Puffs to Professors'. Caveat emptor.... 19/9/06
Shouldn't that be 'By Appointment: Purveyor of Puffs to Professors'? Jacques the Quipper, 22nd Oct 2006
Are we talking a new academic qualification here - a BAPPP? Sounds good.... 2nd Nov 2006
A BAPPP is empty. Where's the meat? There isn't any... Jacques the Quipper, 18th Nov 2006
While the complaints about Watts and Harvey are clearly overblown, I have to say I agree with the posters here, this entry could probably be deleted, unless there is a "Derek Gregory" school of geography out there.
Criticism of the Harvey and Watts puffery is all of a piece with that accorded to such luminaries as Derek Gregory and Sarah A. Radcliffe, and as such is not overblown. Some academics - like some non-academics more generally - are only 'famous' because others want (or need) 'leaders'. History teaches a lesson about this, I seem to recall. Meanwhile, off you go to worship at the shrines of famous geographers, where I shall be handing out BAPPPs.... Jacques le Quippeur 3rd Dec 2006
Report back from the shrine to famous geography professors: the first recipient of a BAPPP – and a worthy one at that – was el zalamero, who now has the right to put these letters behind his name. I hope everyone will recognize the hard work that went into the earning of this qualification, and address him accordingly. Jacques le Kippeur, 24 Dec 2006
Aren't all academics obscure ?
[edit]While I'm not personally his greatest fan, Dr. Gregory is a noted Geographer even outside of his field .... which is what I would personally use for the "notability quotient". He's widely cited, has written numerous text books that endless undergraduates have been forced to suffer through .... what more do you want ?
I think it's been said before, but aren't all academics (in North America save perhaps one or two perhaps like a Chomsky or Stephen Hawking) pretty obscure creatures as far as the public is concerned ?
Plently of truly "notable" academics write popular works in an effort to gain fame, while not providing leading scholarship (some would say Jerod Diamond fits this role well... not me mind you). Should wikipedia reward them and punish the Gregory's of the world because they exclusively write for Nature and not obscure academic journals?
That all said, D.G. DOES have one giant inflated ego ....