Why I left Linkedin

   I was posting quite a bit on Linkedin berating the current state of forensic odontology and calling for reform and calling for research on the validity and reliability of the fundamental priciples of the field. 

   Interestingly, I received NO substantive responses at all from forensic odonts in the U.S., Canada, the U.K, or Europe.  I did receive supporting comments from some--younger--odonts in India and Mexico, in particular, and several other countries, as well.  I received many supporting comments from forensic scientists in fields other than odontology, and from the legal community.  But in most of forensic odontology I suppose I am either a pariah or invisible--maybe irrelevant.

   There was pushback, though, from practitioners who would be characterized as being the "old guard"--and that would be expected.  These folks have been entrenched in forensic odontology for years and have established careers and reputations to protect.  They are the folks who are prominent in their locales, and they are not interested in the least in "upsetting the apple cart" or disrupting the status quo; rather, they have a strong vested interest in maintaing the status quo--maintaining their positions as "experts" and protecting the income that comes from that. They are not interested in the least in admitting "maybe we were wrong"--wrong about what we taught and wrong about what we thought and wrong about our methods and principles.  I was in that camp for years, too.   

   It was very difficult for me when I decided to resign from the ABFO and AAFS when I was in the top odontology leadership position in each. But I could no longer support promulgating the material our field is based on.  I could no longer in good conscience support providing workshops and lectures and presentations and overseeing certification for a field that I have come to believe is so flawed and where most of the disciples were not intersted in questioning the bases of our basic methods and procedures and principles.

   And this realization basically led to a serious existential crisis for me.  I had devoted years of my life in training for and practicing a craft.  I had invested an untold number of hours in learning and research.  I had made a very significant financial investment--the training is not inexpensive.  I had spent years to become board-certified and move up through the ranks of leadership positions in the professional organizations.  I went back to law school to get training in the legal aspects of our discipline.  I'm back in grad school now to learn how to properly do real research--all simply so I could talk about forensic odontology and have some actual knowlege of what I was talking about.  Forensic odontology was not just what I did for a living--it was my passion and identity.

   And, from the things I learned in law school and thus far in grad school, I had to admit that most things I had learned in forensic odontolgy were either: (1) simply wrong, or, (2) were without scientific basis and merit. That was very difficult to accept--what in the world did I think I had been doing? (See Dunning-Kruger; essentially I didn't even know what I didn't know).

   So, anyway, after my epiphany I have tried to encourage others to get the basic research done on validity and relaibility of our most basic methods if we wanted our field to be viewed as useful and legitimate.

   But, realize, the burden is not on me to go out and do the research--that falls on the folks who are making the claim that forensic odontology works. Some people have a profound misconception about how this process works--I'm not making a claim something--such as bitemark analysis--works; I'm disputing that claim.  The onus to produce such research is on the claimant.  And, frankly, I'm really not at all interested in doing research on bitemark analysis--I believe it is a losing proposition.  But if others can show it is really valid and reliable, then more power to them, go for it!  I decided to concentrate on the field of dental age estimation because, even though I think the way it is being done now is improper, nontheless, this field can be rehabilitated and salvaged.  

   And, of course, there was pushback as I noted above--some naive folks in other countries view forensic odontology as an "emerging field" and are rushing to establish themselves as experts without considering science or the history of our field.  But they haven't done a proper literature review.  In my view, they are heading towards making exactly the same mistakes we have made in the U.S. that we are now trying to correct. Some, as I noted, are the "old guard" with reputations and egos and careers to protect. 

   So, there's one group of folks who don't even know they're wrong, and another group who simply will not admit there's even the slightest possibility they might be wrong.  Neither group is in a position to speak out for reform. 

   But I suppose I am lucky in a way--I have retired from full-time work at a morgue.  I am no longer entwined in any jobs or organizations or ego issues that prevent me from trying to look at things objectively and saying what I think.  If what we were doing was wrong, and I point that out, what reprecussions are there for me?  None. 

   So, I spoke out. And spoke out.  And spoke out some more.  But, again, I'm retired, so, really, why am I speaking out about what I see as problems in forensic odontology?  I was asked several times why I care. I was told I'm now just an old irrelevant dude, trying my best to stay relevant.  I was told I was a "quitter" and a "coward" for leaving the ABFO and AAFS.  I was told that I'm a "Boomer"  and, luckily, I probably won't be around that much longer to share my views. 

   Wow. Ok, then. I'll debate the issues, but when it comes to ad hominem and really nasty comments like that, then I'm done. I'm through. Don't need that. I got enough of that crap dealing with organized forensic odnontology.

   But you know what? Virtually no one really cares about that except me and my wife and dogs who have to put up with me.

   The future does indeed belong to the young, and, indeed, I'm not the one who will have to live through the next 50 or 60 years.  The young need to be able to try and shape the world to be a place that works for them--not for me. So, hey, go for it. I tap out.  I bid the folks on Linkedin "adieu" and signed off.

   I just hope that your world will not include too many wrongful convictions. But, then again, if you don't care, why the hell should I?

   Goodnight, goodbye, and godspeed.