Rad Onc Twitter

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There is so much gas-lighting on this topic - ridiculous. Each tweet trying to "out-outrage" the other.

Twitter is a cancer on humanity

20-30 years ago, people would simply think what they were thinking and then move on with their day. If there was truly a major objection, they would write a letter to the editor. Those letters would tend to be formal, respectful and interesting. Now tweets reflect any random thought going through any random person's brain.

Every morning, the alarm on these individuals' iphones go off at 6 AM. The phone is now in their hand. They have been awake for less than 5 seconds but immediately are in withdrawal and in need of something to be outraged about so their first action of the day is to check their feeds. They lay in bed for the next 30 minutes while Twitter and social media fixes them. They could have just left their phone to charge in the kitchen, set an actual alarm clock to 6:30 and avoided all of this. They are now ready to start their day, smug and high. Such is the life of the modern addict.
 
It seems to me like it's a weird hill to die on to support abolishing trainees' fees for IJROBP publication. Don't most programs pay for that for their trainees anyway? (the ones that don't are likely not submitting many papers to IJROBP). And if your department doesn't take care of the fees, then the senior attending certainly has a stipend for such fees built into his faculty appointment....I know lots of peeps on here are big Chirag fans but it seems a bit self-serving to advocate that submission fees for residents be eliminated...what you are ultimately doing is simply saving the coffers of your own big ivory tower institution or perhaps your own personal coffers. I don't know a lot of residents pushed into poverty because of IJROBP fees.

But frankly the gist of Chirag's posts seemed entirely unoffensive, so I didn't really understand the pointed responses from the opposing side. Makes me wonder if there is a history of tensions between the two parties (perhaps some bitter submission cover letters 😆).
 
It seems to me like it's a weird hill to die on to support abolishing trainees' fees for IJROBP publication. Don't most programs pay for that for their trainees anyway? (the ones that don't are likely not submitting many papers to IJROBP). And if your department doesn't take care of the fees, then the senior attending certainly has a stipend for such fees built into his faculty appointment....I know lots of peeps on here are big Chirag fans but it seems a bit self-serving to advocate that submission fees for residents be eliminated...what you are ultimately doing is simply saving the coffers of your own big ivory tower institution or perhaps your own personal coffers. I don't know a lot of residents pushed into poverty because of IJROBP fees.

But frankly the gist of Chirag's posts seemed entirely unoffensive, so I didn't really understand the pointed responses from the opposing side. Makes me wonder if there is a history of tensions between the two parties (perhaps some bitter submission cover letters 😆).

I think you are showing some ivory tower bias there. There are absolutely programs where there is zero funding to help pay for publications of residents, as shocking as this may be to some of you folks. These residents either struggle to publish due to no support or they avoid it all together. See hellpit programs in case you might wonder which ones might offer zero support. This ain’t exactly a secret. So given this reality and fact, i have no problem with evening out playing field and helping these residents. The IJROP, the “leaders” will be totally fine without this money. Dr. Shah is on right side once again.
 
It seems to me like it's a weird hill to die on to support abolishing trainees' fees for IJROBP publication. Don't most programs pay for that for their trainees anyway? (the ones that don't are likely not submitting many papers to IJROBP). And if your department doesn't take care of the fees, then the senior attending certainly has a stipend for such fees built into his faculty appointment....I know lots of peeps on here are big Chirag fans but it seems a bit self-serving to advocate that submission fees for residents be eliminated...what you are ultimately doing is simply saving the coffers of your own big ivory tower institution or perhaps your own personal coffers. I don't know a lot of residents pushed into poverty because of IJROBP fees.

But frankly the gist of Chirag's posts seemed entirely unoffensive, so I didn't really understand the pointed responses from the opposing side. Makes me wonder if there is a history of tensions between the two parties (perhaps some bitter submission cover letters 😆).

Yeah this whole thing is weird

I do find the submission fee for Red Journal very strange.

You don’t see that on top journals like NEJM or JAMA

You also don’t see it in contemporaries like the Green Journal

Why is it even present for Red J? It doesn’t guarantee moving beyond desk rejection

Reviews are done for free by academics for the prestige

Is money going to EIC or ASTRO? I doubt it. If not, why is it being defended by our field?
 
It seems to me like it's a weird hill to die on to support abolishing trainees' fees for IJROBP publication. Don't most programs pay for that for their trainees anyway? (the ones that don't are likely not submitting many papers to IJROBP). And if your department doesn't take care of the fees, then the senior attending certainly has a stipend for such fees built into his faculty appointment....I know lots of peeps on here are big Chirag fans but it seems a bit self-serving to advocate that submission fees for residents be eliminated...what you are ultimately doing is simply saving the coffers of your own big ivory tower institution or perhaps your own personal coffers. I don't know a lot of residents pushed into poverty because of IJROBP fees.

But frankly the gist of Chirag's posts seemed entirely unoffensive, so I didn't really understand the pointed responses from the opposing side. Makes me wonder if there is a history of tensions between the two parties (perhaps some bitter submission cover letters 😆).

Yeah this whole thing is weird

I do find the submission fee for Red Journal very strange.

You don’t see that on top journals like NEJM or JAMA

You also don’t see it in contemporaries like the Green Journal

Why is it even present for Red J? It doesn’t guarantee moving beyond desk rejection

Reviews are done for free by academics for the prestige

Is money going to EIC or ASTRO? I doubt it. If not, why is it being defended by our field?
Same specialty organization that is happy to charge both parties to use the career center (have to wait 3 days to see jobs unless an ASTRO member since the pandemic.. Yet another money grab).

How many other specialty societies do that?
 
I think you are showing some ivory tower bias there. There are absolutely programs where there is zero funding to help pay for publications of residents, as shocking as this may be to some of you folks. These residents either struggle to publish due to no support or they avoid it all together. See hellpit programs in case you might wonder which ones might offer zero support. This ain’t exactly a secret. So given this reality and fact, i have no problem with evening out playing field and helping these residents. The IJROP, the “leaders” will be totally fine without this money. Dr. Shah is on right side once again.
So if a Chirag writes a paper with a resident, you are saying they wouldn’t even submit to red journal for fear of fees? I think the Chirag (aka attending) would just pay for it. Or even better, lobby for the red journal to absorb the fees so he doesn’t have to.
 
So if a Chirag writes a paper with a resident, you are saying they wouldn’t even submit to red journal for fear of fees? I think the Chirag (aka attending) would just pay for it. Or even better, lobby for the red journal to absorb the fees so he doesn’t have to.
What are the fees for again, considering nejm Jama etc aren't charging
 
Same specialty organization that is happy to charge both parties to use the career center (have to wait 3 days to see jobs unless an ASTRO member since the pandemic.. Yet another money grab).

How many other specialty societies do that?
True
 
So if a Chirag writes a paper with a resident, you are saying they wouldn’t even submit to red journal for fear of fees? I think the Chirag (aka attending) would just pay for it. Or even better, lobby for the red journal to absorb the fees so he doesn’t have to.
I don't think CS is doing this for personal gain or CCF. They have plenty of funding and money. It is about the greater good. I don’t see how you conclude he is trying to save himself or Suh money.
 
I don't think CS is doing this for personal gain or CCF. They have plenty of funding and money. It is about the greater good. I don’t see how you conclude he is trying to save himself or Suh money.
So we all agree that the resident shouldn’t be paying for submission fees. So who pays when a resident submits at CCF? Does CCF force the resident to pay? I bet the department eats the cost (because they care about their residents). So by lobbying the red journal to eat the cost, they are in fact trying to save the departments own money.
 
FWIW, I will say talking with other residents (even those coming from programs considered 'below average'), publication/submission fees are reimbursed because it's a win-win for the department.
 
So we all agree that the resident shouldn’t be paying for submission fees. So who pays when a resident submits at CCF? Does CCF force the resident to pay? I bet the department eats the cost (because they care about their residents). So by lobbying the red journal to eat the cost, they are in fact trying to save the departments own money.
ASTRO/IJROBP money grab? Yeah I'd try to save my departments money too if i was an attending.

Where do you think that money comes from?
 
ASTRO/IJROBP money grab? Yeah I'd try to save my departments money too if i was an attending.

Where do you think that money comes from?
Yeah so I think that Chirag should be honest about that when making those arguments. Don’t use residents as a prop.
 
Yeah so I think that Chirag should be honest about that when making those arguments. Don’t use residents as a prop.
Where does the money used on residents in a department come from? Especially post-expansion when the department is funding it?

Yes, I’m biased - but trying to be rational. Saving the department fees helps everyone in the department - including the residents.

Why do you think that they are a prop to him? Have you asked his residents what they think of him and whether they see him trying to take advantage of them or to do right by them?
 
Yeah so I think that Chirag should be honest about that when making those arguments. Don’t use residents as a prop.
If there is X amount of money allocated per resident, it is going to come out of their funds. Full stop. Not sure why that's difficult to comprehend?
 
If there is X amount of money allocated per resident, it is going to come out of their funds. Full stop. Not sure why that's difficult to comprehend?
Right because most programs definitely give all funds allocated to the residents directly to the residents...
 
If there is X amount of money allocated per resident, it is going to come out of their funds. Full stop. Not sure why that's difficult to comprehend?

I am trying to follow his logic but I simply do not see it.

calling Chirag self serving for this is just as messed up as BK calling him a mansplainer.

shameful
 
Where does the money used on residents in a department come from? Especially post-expansion when the department is funding it?

Yes, I’m biased - but trying to be rational. Saving the department fees helps everyone in the department - including the residents.

Why do you think that they are a prop to him? Have you asked his residents what they think of him and whether they see him trying to take advantage of them or to do right by them?
They’re a prop in this scenario because the residents will not benefit one iota if the fees were waived (“helps everyone in the department” aka definitely not the residents except in some convoluted indirect intangible way).

But sure I agree the fees should be waived if feasible. I also think it’s reasonable for red journal leadership to pursue multiple goals in parallel so it’s not really fair to admonish them for putting a poll up about videos just because it’s not addressing the one issue/hill that you have chosen to die on.
 
They’re a prop in this scenario because the residents will not benefit one iota if the fees were waived (“helps everyone in the department” aka definitely not the residents except in some convoluted indirect intangible way).

But sure I agree the fees should be waived if feasible. I also think it’s reasonable for red journal leadership to pursue multiple goals in parallel so it’s not really fair to admonish them for putting a poll up about videos just because it’s not addressing the one issue/hill that you have chosen to die on.
I think this must be a Rorschach test type of deal.
 
I am trying to follow his logic but I simply do not see it.

calling Chirag self serving for this is just as messed up as BK calling him a mansplainer.

shameful
Thanks for trying!

Again, I agree with CS. So I am sad when you equate me to others who tried to mansplain to us that CS was mansplaining (oh the irony).

Nothing wrong with being self serving. Everyone just needs to admit their motives and stop with the holier than thou stuff (including the fake he for she stuff). It’s the holier than thou attitude that pretty much caused the Twitter spat (both sides). A bad look for the field. I just hope all you woke folks take your very strong opinions and actually try to affect change by directly talking to stakeholders and leaders. I’ll commend CS for doing that, albeit in a totally unproductive manner given the backlash he received.
 
They’re a prop in this scenario because the residents will not benefit one iota if the fees were waived (“helps everyone in the department” aka definitely not the residents except in some convoluted indirect intangible way).

But sure I agree the fees should be waived if feasible. I also think it’s reasonable for red journal leadership to pursue multiple goals in parallel so it’s not really fair to admonish them for putting a poll up about videos just because it’s not addressing the one issue/hill that you have chosen to die on.
Seems like everyone is focusing on the resident fee suggestion, but his better point was overall making the process easier and smoother for the content creators (authors). I believe his first suggestion was to create a submission system that doesn’t blow chunks like the current system does.

Video snippets would be nice for the readers, but ultimately that’s just the journal using more free labor from the authors to increase the value of the journal.
 
Same specialty organization that is happy to charge both parties to use the career center (have to wait 3 days to see jobs unless an ASTRO member since the pandemic.. Yet another money grab).

How many other specialty societies do that?
Don’t forget about the submission fees for astro abstract not to mention the “video poster” grift where the cost to produce a poster now goes straight to astro and each authors poster is only visible for the allocated 5 minutes rather than standard 2-ish hours to browse and discuss. Shah is right on in calling this out.
 


So, trying to check myself here since her post got 41 likes from a lot of people who seem pretty reasonable on Twitter.

Were Chirag’s posts “harassing, uninformed, unproductive grandstanding and flagwaving” to anyone else? I didn’t think it was, but want to see if I’m off base.
 
BK and HW getting reverse white-knighted...
1650377865139.png
 
poor Sue!

She is EXHAUSTED!



So, trying to check myself here since her post got 41 likes from a lot of people who seem pretty reasonable on Twitter.

Were Chirag’s posts “harassing, uninformed, unproductive grandstanding and flagwaving” to anyone else? I didn’t think it was, but want to see if I’m off base.

Agree...seemed very mild and reasoned criticism to me. Of course I agree with Chirag
 


So, trying to check myself here since her post got 41 likes from a lot of people who seem pretty reasonable on Twitter.

Were Chirag’s posts “harassing, uninformed, unproductive grandstanding and flagwaving” to anyone else? I didn’t think it was, but want to see if I’m off base.


Not to a 3rd party observer. Folks clutch their pearls when they are criticized. Especially those in positions of power who are otherwise used to brown-nosing yes men (and women), because the folks in power brown nosed all the right people that lead them to their current position as having a position of power.

I will say Chirag was a bit confrontational in his initial posts, but backed off when asked to... but the response to somebody questioning the EIC of IJROBP is completely over the top and has made me lose respect for folks I otherwise considered "good guys/gals" like SY, BK, HW, etc.

There should 100% NOT be a fee to just SUBMIT something to IJROBP. Is that new? When did it start? How much is it? I haven't submitted to IJROBP in forever (and don't really plan to) but when I did within the past 5 years I don't remember there being a submission fee. Maybe I just happily put it on the department credit card and moved on with my life. Was it $80? I vaguely remember paying $80 for something but maybe it was an ASTRO abstract...

There are programs where residents get **** like this covered by the department/senior author attending without batting of an eye. There are also programs where residents have $X amount of money dedicated for research/educational purposes, and submitting 5 papers to IJROBP means one fewer trip to a conference, which influences th eall aimportant networking capabilities that residents are expected to balance along with their other responsibilities just to find an attending position.
 


So, trying to check myself here since her post got 41 likes from a lot of people who seem pretty reasonable on Twitter.

Were Chirag’s posts “harassing, uninformed, unproductive grandstanding and flagwaving” to anyone else? I didn’t think it was, but want to see if I’m off base.

The Red J has a LOT of problems top of which is the utter lack of quality control from reviewers. It feels...not great... to spend months of work on a project and pay - even a nominal fee - to get a 'review' back which 9 times out of 10 is three incoherent, thrown-together sentences from someone who skimmed the paper at best. I also think fees should be refunded for desk-rejections. My SO is in a different branch of academics and there is a world of difference between the reviews they get back and what passes for a review on our side.
 
Academic twitter has been disgusting about this. Chirag getting f*cked over again.

What a joke.

The problem ... the problem ... is that in 5 years, #meded became democratic. When an authoritarian regime goes forcibly democratic, of course leadership is going to go nuts. All of a sudden, you have residents debating tenured faculty about clinical cases, community nobodies going up against experts and sounding more informed than the so called experts, Simul bothering everybody about everything hypocritical in this field, an entire class of residents pretty much revolted against the system and were able to enact meaningful change.

Of course this should terrify them. They have to be accountable now. Do you think ASTRO or The Red Journal have any interest in being accountable to, you know, their members/the people that pay them? No, they don't like it. It makes them very upset. Many ASTRO staff have recently jumped ship. It is stagnant. The CEO of this "non-profit" has been there way longer than one should stay head of a non-profit to keep it fresh/innovative/vibrant. They feel the same way - their employees aren't listened to either.

What comes out of Red Journal that is practice changing? When they are talking about video introductions, that means they have either run out of more important things to work on or they don't want to listen to membership. Why do they charge for submission but other major journals do not? These are reasonable questions to ask?

You can be approachable on social media and be kind and curious, but assertive when you are done talking. Or you can be closed off on social media, but be open in other ways. This is the new world. The new guard does not want to do either and are having temper tantrums publicly and behind closed doors. You know what, Sue? I'm exhausted to. I am tired of ASTRO not listening to us. I'm sad that the R J is not what it once was. I'm fatigued that you all create this wall between rank and file members and the elites. I'm tired of everything being social justice when it can just be people talking to people.

Accelerators will be talking about this soon. It isn't one person and I am not an innocent. I'm guilty of being a ****, too, but the fact is I want to be questioned. I want to learn and improve and be wrong so that I can be right, eventually. We have paleo-leadership that just doesn't want to change with the times.
 
Not to a 3rd party observer. Folks clutch their pearls when they are criticized. Especially those in positions of power who are otherwise used to brown-nosing yes men (and women), because the folks in power brown nosed all the right people that lead them to their current position as having a position of power.

I will say Chirag was a bit confrontational in his initial posts, but backed off when asked to... but the response to somebody questioning the EIC of IJROBP is completely over the top and has made me lose respect for folks I otherwise considered "good guys/gals" like SY, BK, HW, etc.

There should 100% NOT be a fee to just SUBMIT something to IJROBP. Is that new? When did it start? How much is it? I haven't submitted to IJROBP in forever (and don't really plan to) but when I did within the past 5 years I don't remember there being a submission fee. Maybe I just happily put it on the department credit card and moved on with my life. Was it $80? I vaguely remember paying $80 for something but maybe it was an ASTRO abstract...

There are programs where residents get **** like this covered by the department/senior author attending without batting of an eye. There are also programs where residents have $X amount of money dedicated for research/educational purposes, and submitting 5 papers to IJROBP means one fewer trip to a conference, which influences th eall aimportant networking capabilities that residents are expected to balance along with their other responsibilities just to find an attending position.

@evilbooyaa - they aren't good guys. They never have been. They are just people with agendas. I'm not saying I'm a hero or that SDN are heroes. Nobody is. I hope that you all see that. We all have our agendas - mine just happens to be transparent - I hate hypocrisy and I hate residency expansion.

We can't be in this world that - if they agree with me, they are smart and good, but if they disagree with me, they are dumb and evil. I've disagreed with so many people, but in general I feel like we can get along. When these people get disagreed with, they are bloodthirsty. When you say "harrassment" and "mansplaining" you are trying to get someone in trouble. This is nasty and they are behaving in a manner that is unbecoming of a professional.

I can't get in their heads, but I am relatively certain they are talking **** about how to further marginalize us. That's why I'm working with ACRO, because that is probably our only way to have a voice. There is very little to lose by joining ACRO and much to gain. Please sign up!
 
Something to keep in mind: would like Sue Yom to stay on as editor for as long as possible. being editor is almost certainly a labor of love. Think of all the malignant/self promoting freaks w/agendas that would jump at a chance to replace her or truly take the journal down the toilet with 100% DEI/disparity research etc
 
Academic twitter has been disgusting about this. Chirag getting f*cked over again.

What a joke.

The problem ... the problem ... is that in 5 years, #meded became democratic. When an authoritarian regime goes forcibly democratic, of course leadership is going to go nuts. All of a sudden, you have residents debating tenured faculty about clinical cases, community nobodies going up against experts and sounding more informed than the so called experts, Simul bothering everybody about everything hypocritical in this field, an entire class of residents pretty much revolted against the system and were able to enact meaningful change.

Of course this should terrify them. They have to be accountable now. Do you think ASTRO or The Red Journal have any interest in being accountable to, you know, their members/the people that pay them? No, they don't like it. It makes them very upset. Many ASTRO staff have recently jumped ship. It is stagnant. The CEO of this "non-profit" has been there way longer than one should stay head of a non-profit to keep it fresh/innovative/vibrant. They feel the same way - their employees aren't listened to either.

What comes out of Red Journal that is practice changing? When they are talking about video introductions, that means they have either run out of more important things to work on or they don't want to listen to membership. Why do they charge for submission but other major journals do not? These are reasonable questions to ask?

You can be approachable on social media and be kind and curious, but assertive when you are done talking. Or you can be closed off on social media, but be open in other ways. This is the new world. The new guard does not want to do either and are having temper tantrums publicly and behind closed doors. You know what, Sue? I'm exhausted to. I am tired of ASTRO not listening to us. I'm sad that the R J is not what it once was. I'm fatigued that you all create this wall between rank and file members and the elites. I'm tired of everything being social justice when it can just be people talking to people.

Accelerators will be talking about this soon. It isn't one person and I am not an innocent. I'm guilty of being a ****, too, but the fact is I want to be questioned. I want to learn and improve and be wrong so that I can be right, eventually. We have paleo-leadership that just doesn't want to change with the times.
Yea, I was surprised by her comment that it wasn’t Chirag’s “place” to criticize the red journal. Seems very hierarchical and backwards. The pile-on by big names and emerging big names in the form of replies, re-tweets, and likes was disheartening.

I’m progressive and have always rolled my eyes at conservative pearl-clutching towards wokeism/CC, but BK and HW shutting down all dissent by invoking sexism was pretty eye opening. Their actions weren’t Sue’s fault though. As one sock puppet added, she didn’t ask for their help.
 
I am deeply concerned of the energy level of someone if they are “exhausted” after having a totally reasonable disagreement with an equal and a colleague and feigning outrage. I pray for their energy to return as well as their health. Thoughts and prayers folks!
 
I heard a story recently. This large nation with a despot ruler and a powerful military invaded a small neighboring country. The leader of the large nation, convinced of his military superiority, expected to overrun his neighbor quickly and with few casualties. This wasn't the case, and after a month the large nation was forced to make a strategic retreat. "How could this happen?" everyone asked. Well as it turns out, when you rule with fear, surround yourself with yes men, and eliminate everyone that may offer you a contrarian view, you don't always make the most optimal decisions.

We've become so quick to accuse people of sexism and M/F power dynamics while completely ignoring Academic/Community Practice or Senior/Junior classism. Here it is in full force. You have a prominent mid career attending bringing up a completely fair criticism to someone his senior. He gets accused of sexism purely because the criticism is between a M and F. The Chairman and a senior attending of an academic department step in to come to a Vice Chair's aid, while the only people defending Chirag are community practice physicians who have absolutely no dog in this fight. I won't say Chirag was right and I certainly don't know the economics of running the red journal, but to have prominent academic faculty try to shut down civil discourse by gaslighting him with accusations of sexism is a pretty good start to ensuring we have no civil discourse in the future.
 
I am deeply concerned of the energy level of someone if they are “exhausted” after having a totally reasonable disagreement with an equal and a colleague and feigning outrage. I pray for their energy to return as well as their health. Thoughts and prayers folks!
I was low energy and found out I had low T ... fixed it!
 
I heard a story recently. This large nation with a despot ruler and a powerful military invaded a small neighboring country. The leader of the large nation, convinced of his military superiority, expected to overrun his neighbor quickly and with few casualties. This wasn't the case, and after a month the large nation was forced to make a strategic retreat. "How could this happen?" everyone asked. Well as it turns out, when you rule with fear, surround yourself with yes men, and eliminate everyone that may offer you a contrarian view, you don't always make the most optimal decisions.

We've become so quick to accuse people of sexism and M/F power dynamics while completely ignoring Academic/Community Practice or Senior/Junior classism. Here it is in full force. You have a prominent mid career attending bringing up a completely fair criticism to someone his senior. He gets accused of sexism purely because the criticism is between a M and F. The Chairman and a senior attending of an academic department step in to come to a Vice Chair's aid, while the only people defending Chirag are community practice physicians who have absolutely no dog in this fight. I won't say Chirag was right and I certainly don't know the economics of running the red journal, but to have prominent academic faculty try to shut down civil discourse by gaslighting him with accusations of sexism is a pretty good start to ensuring we have no civil discourse in the future.
Wish this could be posted on Twitter by someone who is considered reasonable ... but alas.
 
The Red J has a LOT of problems top of which is the utter lack of quality control from reviewers. It feels...not great... to spend months of work on a project and pay - even a nominal fee - to get a 'review' back which 9 times out of 10 is three incoherent, thrown-together sentences from someone who skimmed the paper at best. I also think fees should be refunded for desk-rejections. My SO is in a different branch of academics and there is a world of difference between the reviews they get back and what passes for a review on our side.
Totally agree. I haven’t reviewed in about 5 years but I have seen several reviews that were one or two sentences total (including on manuscripts with numerous issues)
 
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