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Original poster

Just when I thought Academia couldn't sink any lower.

337 replies

Imnobody4 · 08/08/2022 16:40

Not just a PhD in wanking, but a peer-reviewed paper on masturbating to images of young boys. Published in "Qualitative Methods". t.co/L3MnSkYQFN

twitter.com/ProfAliceS/status/1556584749447143425?t=v_5NNIZDXKNzFbMBZxWsfQ&s=19

How did this get past Manchester University's ethics process @OfficialUoM ? Masturbating to images of children and writing it up for public consumption does not seem ethical to me. This is hugely disturbing.

Actually I'm speechless.

OP posts:
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lechiffre55 · 08/08/2022 17:16

There's things in the link that shouldn't be reposted here e.g. his methodology segment. but this one line really struck me about his motivation and intent:
"Untangling this largely unresearched knot of desires for fictional boy characters will give us a better understanding of human sexuality and provide a more solid basis for policymaking."
The word policymaking in the context really does fill my heart with dread.
Anyone care to guess what policies he has in mind?

Fladdermus · 08/08/2022 17:12

My DH never stops moaning about the idiocy of his PhD students. I'm going to show him this and get his thoughts when he gets home.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/08/2022 17:11

Here's a link to Researchgate where this article is cited. www.researchgate.net/publication/360206602_I_am_not_alone_-_we_are_all_alone_Using_masturbation_as_an_ethnographic_method_in_research_on_shota_subculture_in_Japan

I'm not sure if the abstract is readable in full. It's unspeakably grim that we've reached a point where people seriously think this sort of self-regarding, valueless paedophile-adjacent nonsense can be classified as academic research. It's in a journal called Qualitative Research. I assume it's been peer reviewed to make it that far.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 08/08/2022 17:04

How is that legal?

AlisonDonut · 08/08/2022 17:02

Jesus H Christ on a fucking bike.

dropthevipers · 08/08/2022 17:01

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/08/2022 16:57

I think so. There is a researcher of that name in the Japanese Studies Dept at the University of Manchester. He's doing a funded Ph.D. It's not easy to get funding for a Ph.D. in a non-STEM subject, I believe. How odd (to put it as neutrally as possible) that the university awarded him a studentship on the basis of this research topic.

I am now intrigued - what the hell is there to say about wanking, let alone a PhD on it?

KatVonlabonk · 08/08/2022 16:58

Makes the "porn scholar" at Exeter University look classy

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/08/2022 16:57

I think so. There is a researcher of that name in the Japanese Studies Dept at the University of Manchester. He's doing a funded Ph.D. It's not easy to get funding for a Ph.D. in a non-STEM subject, I believe. How odd (to put it as neutrally as possible) that the university awarded him a studentship on the basis of this research topic.

dropthevipers · 08/08/2022 16:48

Is that for real?

KittenKong · 08/08/2022 16:47

Oh I just knew when I saw the thread girl what this was going to be.

And this person thinks they are going to get a job with that on their CV? Parents must be so proud…

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/08/2022 16:47

Oh god, come wasn't the best choice of word there ...

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/08/2022 16:46

Very much a Come, Friendly Asteroid! moment, isn't it?