If you don't know the story I'd recommend reading the article which sparked the issues with a blank slate, it's a pretty fascinating read
http://grantland.com/features/a-mysterious-physicist-golf-club-dr-v/
Summarized version:
- Journalist begins writing about an oddly designed golf putter shown in infomercials
- Learns the inventor of the club is a woman named Dr. Vanderbilt, an eccentric character who purports to be a physicist from MIT who has worked on top secret military projects
- Dr. Vanderbilt through email exchanges agrees to discuss the science behind the club but is adamant the story doesn't delve into her personal life
- Journalist learns there is no record of a Dr. Vanderbilt having graduated from MIT or any record of the accreditation claimed to her
- Journalists learns not only that Dr. Vanderbilt is a possible fraud artist but was actually born a man
- Dr. Vanderbilt sends threatening e-mails warning journalist not to run the story and accuses him of being a bully
- Dr. Vanderbilt commits suicide
The story has sparked a lot of debate over the power and morality of journalists. Some people are arguing the journalist was just doing his job pursuing all avenues of a story as he should while on the other spectrum there are people outright calling the journalist a murderer citing the threat of exposure as being the catalyst behind the suicide.
The main criticisms to the piece seem to be the fact that the journalist outed Dr. Vanderbilt to one of her investors, a perceived callous attitude by the journalist when he learns the Dr. used to be a man and connecting her gender identity issues with her fraudulent behavior.
Here's a link to one of the more scathing criticisms from Jezebel
http://jezebel.com/trans-woman-commits-suicide-amid-fear-of-outing-by-spor-1503902916
Here's Bill Simmons (editor-in-chief of Grantland) response to the reaction of the article and explanation behind the thought process of running the story. http://grantland.com/features/the-dr-v-story-a-letter-from-the-editor/
Thoughts?
http://grantland.com/features/a-mysterious-physicist-golf-club-dr-v/
Summarized version:
- Journalist begins writing about an oddly designed golf putter shown in infomercials
- Learns the inventor of the club is a woman named Dr. Vanderbilt, an eccentric character who purports to be a physicist from MIT who has worked on top secret military projects
- Dr. Vanderbilt through email exchanges agrees to discuss the science behind the club but is adamant the story doesn't delve into her personal life
- Journalist learns there is no record of a Dr. Vanderbilt having graduated from MIT or any record of the accreditation claimed to her
- Journalists learns not only that Dr. Vanderbilt is a possible fraud artist but was actually born a man
- Dr. Vanderbilt sends threatening e-mails warning journalist not to run the story and accuses him of being a bully
- Dr. Vanderbilt commits suicide
The story has sparked a lot of debate over the power and morality of journalists. Some people are arguing the journalist was just doing his job pursuing all avenues of a story as he should while on the other spectrum there are people outright calling the journalist a murderer citing the threat of exposure as being the catalyst behind the suicide.
The main criticisms to the piece seem to be the fact that the journalist outed Dr. Vanderbilt to one of her investors, a perceived callous attitude by the journalist when he learns the Dr. used to be a man and connecting her gender identity issues with her fraudulent behavior.
Here's a link to one of the more scathing criticisms from Jezebel
http://jezebel.com/trans-woman-commits-suicide-amid-fear-of-outing-by-spor-1503902916
Here's Bill Simmons (editor-in-chief of Grantland) response to the reaction of the article and explanation behind the thought process of running the story. http://grantland.com/features/the-dr-v-story-a-letter-from-the-editor/
Thoughts?
