Comments on: Bias, Objectivity and Authority http://www.librarywebchic.net/wordpress/2007/06/22/bias-objectivity-and-authority/ Resources for librarians who are interested in the application of web design and technologies in libraries Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:55:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sarah Houghton-Jan (LiB) http://www.librarywebchic.net/wordpress/2007/06/22/bias-objectivity-and-authority/comment-page-1/#comment-27091 Sarah Houghton-Jan (LiB) Mon, 02 Jul 2007 20:59:08 +0000 http://www.librarywebchic.net/wordpress/2007/06/22/bias-objectivity-and-authority/#comment-27091 I'm happy to be disagreed with on this, but I think many people are reading more into my post than is actually there. And a lot of people haven't even read the original post, and are just going off of the comments others make. You can certainly talk with a vendor. You have to in order to get stuff. You can certainly write for a journal that pays you. But is the journal telling you to write about a particular topic, perhaps one that shows their sister companies in a favorable light? Or is the vendor buying you dinner and giving you gifts to try to get you to buy their product? This is where I have a problem. And I agree--one can't be perfectly objective. I never said that one could. It's impossible. But there certainly are things that reduce one's objectivity. That was my point. I’m happy to be disagreed with on this, but I think many people are reading more into my post than is actually there. And a lot of people haven’t even read the original post, and are just going off of the comments others make. You can certainly talk with a vendor. You have to in order to get stuff. You can certainly write for a journal that pays you. But is the journal telling you to write about a particular topic, perhaps one that shows their sister companies in a favorable light? Or is the vendor buying you dinner and giving you gifts to try to get you to buy their product? This is where I have a problem. And I agree–one can’t be perfectly objective. I never said that one could. It’s impossible. But there certainly are things that reduce one’s objectivity. That was my point.

]]> By: L http://www.librarywebchic.net/wordpress/2007/06/22/bias-objectivity-and-authority/comment-page-1/#comment-26600 L Fri, 22 Jun 2007 14:48:45 +0000 http://www.librarywebchic.net/wordpress/2007/06/22/bias-objectivity-and-authority/#comment-26600 I think one of the things that the librarianinblack post misses is that it assumes the vendor/client is one-sided and that the client is the only one swayed by friendship or likability. Sure, the vendor rep is a salesperson, but I would assert that their regard for you (the client) endears you to them on an interpersonal level. They can be swayed to make a better deal based on their friendship with you - it's a two-way street. You need to have an honest rapport with the vendor from the start and tell them what works for you and what doesn't. It's the only way both sides can be truly happy. If you get sold a pile of crap, you're going to tell every librarian that will listen about the pile of crap. Your happiness and your positive word of mouth still have value. In the vendors I've dealt with, they understand that I will be brutally honest, and I feel they respect that. I've also had some very good meals at their expense - I still sleep well at night! I think one of the things that the librarianinblack post misses is that it assumes the vendor/client is one-sided and that the client is the only one swayed by friendship or likability. Sure, the vendor rep is a salesperson, but I would assert that their regard for you (the client) endears you to them on an interpersonal level. They can be swayed to make a better deal based on their friendship with you – it’s a two-way street.

You need to have an honest rapport with the vendor from the start and tell them what works for you and what doesn’t. It’s the only way both sides can be truly happy. If you get sold a pile of crap, you’re going to tell every librarian that will listen about the pile of crap. Your happiness and your positive word of mouth still have value. In the vendors I’ve dealt with, they understand that I will be brutally honest, and I feel they respect that.

I’ve also had some very good meals at their expense – I still sleep well at night!

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