Should we change our name: 'ME/CFS Skeptic'?

[SNT Gatchaman]

I would suggest "ME/CFS Expert Reviews" or "Expert Reviews in ME/CFS". Play off the equivalent peer-reviewed journal titles. I think it's earned: in terms of scientific credentials and expertise by lived-experience.

 

[Trish]

Thanks Trish. It would be good to get some more feedback on this: would this name ('ME/CFS Science') be acceptable or not for S4ME staff? It's currently the one we prefer but we want to avoid picking a problematic name again!

I'll consult the staff.

 

[Sean]

ME/CFS Science Analysis ?

Accurate and neutral, if not particularly exciting.

ME/CFS Skeptic should be awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
That should do it.

Seeing how much deference is paid to formal honourifics in certain quarters, how about Lord Sir ME/CFS Skeptic ?

 

[Murph]

A parallel expression is "climate skeptic", and they're usually skeptical of there being a problem at all. So my vote is for a name change.

I suggest ME/CFS Science Reviews.

 

[Yann04]

Lord Sir ME/CFS Skeptic

“The Baron(ess) of ME”

 

[Yann04]

And though I will blog again in future, I won’t do many more.

For what it’s worth I really have enjoyed reading your blogs.

 

[Simon M]

We prefer a short and neutral name… the one we were thinking of is: 'ME/CFS Science'.

…won't give a wrong impression, for example that we know better (names such as ME/CFS watch, ME/CFS Investigator, etc. might give some people that impression

I Understand why you think that, and I had the same thought when trying to come up with suggestions for you. But I encourage you to reconsider.

What you do is unique, of exceptional quality and I think you can confidently claim to be doing something different (without worrying too much about any implication that it is also better).

Your analysis does so much to help the whole field move forward. @Ravn and @SNT Gatchaman have explained this well in previous posts. Your blogs are better than many review papers, because of the way you Forensically examine individual papers, including their data. This helps influence advocates who otherwise might be happy to run with attractive – sounding findings. And I can’t help feeling it’s influencing researchers as well.

So please do consider something less neutral, though I completely understand why you need to change the name, because you are clearly missing out on readership.

maybe something like:
ME/CFS Science Sleuth
(Adapting an earlier suggestion).

"ME/CFS Expert Reviews"

Also good, but I can see why you might not want to use the word expert.

ME/CFS Skrutiniser

This too, or maybe :
ME/CFS Science Scrutiniser

Anyway, good luck finding a name

 

[Sasha]

Just want to say I'm not a fan of 'sleuth' because it carries connotations of amateurism. In fiction, a sleuth is an amateur detective, while the police are the professionals. (Of course, in fiction, the amateurs are better than the professionals, but I think you're better off not associating yourselves with amateurship!)

 

[Yann04]

I'm not a fan of 'sleuth'

Me neither. I’ve never heard of the word before (english is my second language), but it doesn’t sound very good.

 

[Sasha]

'ME/CFS Science Microscope'? (Trying to think of something memorable and distinctive that also describes what you're doing, though as @Simon M says, I'd prefer something that also captures that you are experts.)

 

[Trish]

ME/CFS Science Analysis seems a good option.

 

[Simon M]

ME/CFS Science Analysis seems a good option.

It’s very accurate

But even though It’s very much my thing, it sounds very dull, which isn’t ideal for a blog title

 

[Trish]

But even though It’s very much my thing, it sounds very dull, which isn’t ideal for a blog title

I agree. I think it's good to go for something memorable and distinctive, even surprising.

 

[Sasha]

'The ME/CFS Science Boffins'? 'Boffins' might give non-native English-speakers a bit of a challenge, though.

Not sure I like this one but chucking it out there in case it inspires anybody to come up with something better...

 

[Yann04]

memorable and distinctive, even surprising.

I kind of like the microscope suggestion in that way. It sounds weird, but in a good way.

 

[Trish]

ME/CFS Research Unwrapped

 

[Sasha]

The ME/CFS Research Inspectors
The ME/CFS Research Detectives

 

[Haveyoutriedyoga]

The first time I went to your blog it was because I was curious to find out what you were skeptical about!

 

[Kitty]

It's the /CFS bit that makes it hard. I'm not suggesting it should be dropped from the condition name, of course, just that it makes titles clumsy.

I can't help thinking of names in the DecodeME format – CritiqueME, AnalyseME, ExamineME – but they don't work nearly as well with /CFS added.

 

[Sasha]

I can't help thinking of names in the DecodeME format – CritiqueME, AnalyseME, ExamineME – but they don't work nearly as well with /CFS added.

Some good words there, though. 'The ME/CFS Science Examiner'?