Every now and then I come across a article published on the “professional” social media platform, LinkedIn, that seems like a good fit for this website.

So I’ll contact the author for permission to publish, or syndicate it on outbreaknewstoday.com.

Image/OpenClipart-Vectors
Image/OpenClipart-Vectors

On Saturday, a post on antibiotics and antibiotic stewardship caught my eye as I skimmed the beginning of the piece.

I contacted the author, a man with at least six degrees (1 undergraduate, 6 graduate including a PhD and working on a 7th) for permission, which was granted.

I chose to keep his identity anonymous.

Here is the LinkedIn thread describing the conversation:

Robert Herriman

Hi Dr XXXX,

I enjoyed your recent article on antibiotics very much. I would like permission to “syndicate” that post on my website, outbreaknewstoday.com

Thanks for your consideration, Robert

LinkedIn Member

Hi Robert Have at it.

Robert Herriman sent the following message at 7:50 PM

Thanks

Keep me posted

So far, so good. However, upon closer look at the content, I found a couple of things that I found problematic and couldn’t publish. This included calling Vancomycin an aminoglycoside and saying aminoglycosides were “Another group of β-lactam antibiotics”.

So I contacted the individual and so the thread continues:

Robert Herriman

While editing, I found a couple of issues, is it ok if I edit?

1. Vancomycin is included with the aminoglycosides

2. Aminoglycosides are called Beta lactams

LinkedIn Member

Maybe you better just forget the whole thing. I don’t like having my work edited

Especially when it’s already correct. I’m sure you understand

Robert Herriman

Thanks

I get it, no one wants their work edited so I figured that was the end of it and moved on–no harm, no foul.

Until early Sunday morning when the issued resurfaced. I woke up to this inquiry:

LinkedIn Member

Where did you obtain the information that my article was incorrect? I am understandably curious.

Robert Herriman

Just years of experience as a microbiologist. I know vancomycin is a glycopeptide and I know aminoglycosides are not beta lactams, but are frequently used in combo with beta lactams. I’m sure this info is available in common texts and online.

Drum roll…..this is how the PhD replied:

LinkedIn Member

If you say so. But I have significantly greater education in this area as well as experience so I would suggest you write your own articles and see how that goes OK?

As I was trying reply back to him that it was not personal and was sorry he felt it was, I noticed the replies kept on failing.

Lo and behold, the magnificent scientist with more letters after his name than I have fingers and toes, blocked me–hence him suddenly appearing as LinkedIn Member.

Very bizarre situation to say the least. Do we really need to act so childish? Must his ego become bruised so easily?

It’s a shame that colleagues in health and medicine blogging have to act that way. I have people correcting things on the website occasionally.

Anyway, I thought I’d share this weird situation. What are your thoughts?