It feels a bit patronising to even say this, but we should all be aware of the prejudices through which any contact we have with the media is likely to be viewed.
1) Make sure your criticism of any researchers is measured, accurate, and free of personal hostility.
2) Make sure that nothing you say could be taken to indicate that you are stigmatising mental health issues (I've had myself misinterpreted in the most incredible ways in the past).
3) Make it clear that you're not defending threats of violence against researchers, or anything like that.
4) You could point to specific aspects of these researchers work which have justifiably led to anger, to make it clear that it's not just the fact that they are psychologists which is the problem. (Make sure that you're fairly and accurately representing their work).
Given the one sided way the BBC presented this, with fawning coverage of Wessely/Crawley and critical questioning of Shepherd, being irritated is understandable, but we want to avoid coming across as hostile, even if some hostility would be justified. I'm sure you were all aware of this sort of stuff anyway.
It's really annoying that we need to be endlessly distancing ourselves from some non-existent stereotype. It just seems so widely acceptable, in a way in which it no longer (hopefully) is for gay/black/other groups in society. I guess plenty of campaigners in those areas would laugh at my naivety.
Hi Esther12
I don't think he could ever bring himself to issue any sort of public apology.... I am now getting dangerously close to the sort of psychological profiling which we're criticising! Hopefully it's clear to all that all my observations will be filtered though my own prejudices, cognitive distortions, and so on. I don't feel the need to be too careful about what I say on a forum.
Can you rephrase this so I understand its meaning.
max
My prediction that Wessely could not bring himself to apologise is similar to those who attempt to crudely psychoanalyse CFS patients despite the partial knowledge at their disposal, and the likelihood that their prejudices will guide their conclusions.