First up, Charles Stross is questioned about his “credentials” by a budding scholar:
From: numpty#@gmail.comHello, I’m citing your work for a debate article I’m using about space colonization and how it is improbable. I do need credentials however, and I’ve yet to find them online. If you could reply with your credentials that’d be great.
(I assume he’s talking about this; it’s all over the internet, triggered a firestorm, and I keep getting gimme emails from content farms asking to reprint it.)
From: meI’m a novelist, not an academic. If you want credentials, go look me up in wikipedia.
From: numpty#@gmail.comYour time is clearly very valuable, as you would rather argue with me over this than simply take a minute or two to state your credentials. Furthermore, I have no need to know the extent of your writings, I simply need to know if you are indeed certified to be considered a credible source on the topic. For instance, if your credible knowledge is on the topic of slaads and borrowing from George R. R. Martin, you are not considered a credible source on space colonization. So let me just ask you this, why should I believe your article has any rational basis, when for all I know now is your true expertise lies in the githyanki.
And in another instance, Dark Water Muse has to deal with a clueless telephone solicitation:
I had the privilege today of being phoned by fraudsters phishing for access to my computer. This is the second time I’ve received this type of call and I’ve used the same response in both cases. Try it, it’s fun.
[The phone rings. callee answers the phone.]
Callee: Hello?
[several seconds pass before the background noises of a busy call centre can be heard]
Caller [affected by a thick South Asian accent]: Hello?
Callee: Hello??
Caller: can I speak to Mr…uhhh…Goon…please?
