1 - Introduction: what can go wrong?

Summary

Among the free lessons life has to offer, the mistakes of our fellow men are perhaps the best ones. The following tale may make the point. Let's pretend it is a figment of imagination.

A large society met happily, year after year, at their annual convention. There were many short talks each lasting twelve minutes, followed by three minutes of discussion. Every member was eligible to give a talk. While all seemed smooth sailing, some people began worrying about the quality of the presentations. They soon came up with a splendid idea that was immediately implemented: abstracts had to be submitted to committees which selected papers for platform presentation. Abstracts considered unworthy of the highest honors were just printed; no talk was allowed. The efficient secretary of the society mailed the decision on a postcard to all concerned. In this way, he saved the expenses for regular letters, and the members did not have to open envelopes.

As the mail arrived, there was happiness in some quarters. In others, weeping and gnashing of teeth; especially where technicians handed the mail to their masters with comments like ‘Your talk has been rejected.’ Devastated by the bad tidings as only sensitive scientists can be, some members went no more to the society's meetings; others, of a more flexible mind, went to pay homage to superior colleagues.

And what a surprise it was! One rejectee, a professor by rank, went to a session where he would have loved to give a talk. He entered the large room while it was dark; only the slide projections were visible.