I've been discussing lately the entangled web of relationships and referencing in this community, and I have decided that henceforth I'm going to call it on this blog what I've called it in my head for a very long time: The Incestral Health Community. This is because everyone has ties to everyone else (or enough) and apparently nobody feels even the slightest bit interested in vetting one another, let alone any professional obligation to do so before slapping the affiliate logo on their website or inviting fellow IHC members to speak at their events.
I've also been highlighting credentials of late, and will continue to do so when I feel that it is pertinent. I want to make sure that everyone reading here understands that I am not passing judgment on anyone's academic record, highest degree held, etc. Fer crying out loud, two of the smartest women I've had the privilege of knowing both dropped out of high school in the 9th grade. And sadly, the number of functional illiterates matriculating at prestigious institutions these days is mind-blowingly astounding. This is not about academic elitism or snobbery. It IS about discussing just what makes for an authority, an expert, etc.
